Gandhiji's Historic Padayatra in Odisha
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Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Gandhiji's Historic Padayatra in Odisha Balabhadra Ghadai ahatma Gandhi was a humanist and country. The beginning of Gandhiji’s protest Mradical revivalist who fought not only against untouchability had a wonderful against colonialism and imperialism of response in Odisha. Gandhiji’s ‘fast unto foreigners but also fought against casteism, death’ in protest against ‘Communal Award religious hatred, superstitious practices, of August 1932’ was one of the most social oppression, economic exploitation etc. with equal vigour and dynamism. To him, the institution of untouchability was the “the most painful and difficult social problem, with history has ever cursed the civilized people. Moreover he argued the removal of untouchability as ‘key to Swaraj’. By Swaraj he did not simply mean liberation from foreign rule but it was a society free from all injustice and exploitation. The incorporation of removal of untouchability in the constructive programme of the National successful actions of his life which aroused Congress by Mahatma Gandhi made it a great anxiety in the millions in Odisha. The national concern and gave impetus to the Congress workers engaged themselves in uplift of the depressed classes all over the removal of untouchability in the state. The OCTOBER - 2019 65 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Harijan movement which he started under and Tarun Sahitya Samaj together with the banner of constructive programmes in purses of Rs.400 and Rs. 21 respectively. Odisha occupies a special place in the social Gandhiji felt, ‘the Harijan Movement history of modern India. Gandhiji visited is religious by nature. All great religions owe Odisha eight times. He had spent a total of their existence to the foot marches sixty nine days in Odisha. His eventful fifth undertaken by great spiritual leaders. Puri visit to Odisha in 1934 deserves special is a place of pilgrimage and a centre of significance because he had undertaken religion. So the change over to the really Padayatra or foot-march only twice during religious method of preaching ought to be his life time , first in Odisha in 1934 and undertaken here.’ Cherishing the ideals of second in Noakhali in 1947.This has rightly Buddha, Shankar, Nanak, Chaitanya, the been regarded as the Dharmayatra (Religious great seers of the past, he announced his March) of the messiah who travelled on foot intention of starting Harijan welfare campaign for emancipation of the Dalits of the state. by undertaking Padayatra. Gandhi Gandhiji arrived at the Jharsuguda explained, ‘through experience, I have learnt junction on the 5th May, 1934 at 5 p.m. He that an atmosphere created by going on addressed huge gatherings at Jharsuguda motors and vehicles is quite different from and Sambalpur, collected a good amount of the atmosphere made by going on money for the Harijan Fund and enroute to foot.’Gandhiji’s Dandi March stirred a great Puri he addressed a mammoth meeting at political upsurge in the country earlier. Now Angul on 6 May1934.The vicious attitude his pilgrimage from Puri for Harijan work was of the Deputy Commissioner of Angul to foil destined to arouse profound social Gandhiji’s visit could not be successful. awareness among the countrymen. However, after arrival Gandhiji went straight Gandhiji began his Padayatra on 9 to the dias, saluted the people and began his May 1934 at 5.30 a.m. along Puri – Cuttack lecture in a sitting posture. The collection road. His party included Amritlal Thakar, made by Gandhiji in Angul meeting for Miss Mira Behn, Sushila Behn, Uma Bajaj Harijan Fund amounted to Rs.700 (daughter of Jamunalal Bajaj), Prabhavati approximately. While unveiling the statue of Devi(wife of Jayaprakash Narayan), Balaji Pandit Gopabandhu Das on 8 May 1934, Govindji Desai, Damodar Das, Kaka at Puri he paid higher tribute to his selfless Kalekar, a German journalist K. Butow, work, lofty ideals, unostentatious behaviour Gopabandhu Choudhury, Rama Devi, and exhorted the audience to emulate his Harekrushna Mahatab, Nilakantha Das, Raj ideas. There he was presented with Krushna Bose and a few other leaders. addresses of welcome by the citizens of Puri Jadumani Mangaraj, Satya Narayan OCTOBER - 2019 66 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Sengupta, Bichitrananda Das, Binod phase of Padayatra in Odisha. An advance Kanungo, Surendra Patnaik, Sahadeb Das, party consisting of Pandit Pranakrushna Gajendra Nath Das,Nanda Kishore Das, Padhiary, Gunanidhi Mohanty, Surendra Karunakar Panigrahi and many other Nath Patnaik and Gour Mohan Das was sent workers also joined Gandhiji’s Padayatra. to make arrangement for his Padayatra. Larger and larger crowd followed Gandhiji Starting from Bairi, Gandhiji visited as he marched on. At some places he used places like Champapur, Bheda, Laxmanpur, to visit Harijan habitats advising them to Bahukud, Patapur, Nischintakoili, Kakatia, discard intoxicants and follow simple rules Salar, Kendrapada, Kabirpur Budhaghat, of health and hygiene. While addressing the Jajpur, Manjuri, Bhandaripokhari,Todang public meetings, he urged the higher caste and Goradpur (Bhadrak).There was a Hindus to treat the Harijans as their brothers special arrangement for a hearty reception and to give up the curse of untouchability to Gandhiji’s party by the local Congress and warned that ‘Hinduism will be effaced leaders of Bhadrak. However, with a view altogether’ if this evil is not resisted. to prohibit any open meeting of Gandhiji the On 10th May 1934 Gandhiji visited S.D.O. of Bhadrak, Durga Charan Das had Gopabandhu Sevasadan (Kadua Ashram), imposed Sec.144 in Bhadrak. Gandhiji stayed in its Harijan boarding, addressed addressed the people in batches inside the the Brahmins of Birapurusottampur, who Garadpur Ashram. Gandhiji was impressed were in favour of the removal of at the devotion and enthusiasm of Rama Devi, Subhadra Devi (wife of Harekrushna untouchability. At Satyabhamapur, the Mahatab) and other notable women like Harijans were invited to dine with the team Sunamani Devi, Radhamani Devi (wife of of Padayatris. At Balianta, Gandhiji Pandit Nilakantha Das), Godavari Devi, performed the ceremony of opening the Sobha Devi, Annapurna Maharana, Mangala Kunjabehari Temple to all Hindus, including Sengupta and Manika Devi for promoting the Harijans. Khadi and Harijan welfare. Withered In the evening of 16th May 1934 appreciation he wrote: “I have had the there was a mammoth gathering on the river privilege of mixing with tens and thousands bed of Kathajodi . Gandhiji appealed to of India’s women. I have seen them at work. the people to give up caste prejudices, But nowhere have I seen anything quite intoxicants, abolish purdah, use the like what Srimati Rama Devi and her band homespun Khadi and throw open temples, have been found to do so gracefully and wells and schools to the Harijans. naturally. They have not needed or claimed any special privilege.’’ Gandhiji and party left Cuttack on 16 May1934 in order to attend a meeting of In Bhadrak Gandhiji engaged A.I.C.C. at Patna and again returned to himself with Harijan workers, flood relief and Odisha on 21 May to resume his second spinning. Having covered 156 miles in coastal OCTOBER - 2019 67 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha on foot Gandhiji and his party left like (i) Karma Mandir, Agarpada, present for Wardha on 8 June, 1934 via Balasore Bhadrak district (guided by Harekrushna and Kharagpur. In his farewell address he Mahatab) (ii) Bhadrak Ashram, Bhadrak spoke to the volunteers: “You have laboured (managed by Jivaramji Kalyanji, Iswarlal with rare devotion and never complained of Vyas and Puru Bai) and(iii)Bari Ashram, Bari, overwork. You have laboured night and day a place of present Jajpur district(guided by in order to make the pilgrimage a Gopabandhu Choudhury with the assistance of Rama Devi, Annapurna Devi, Surendra Nath Pattnaik, Binod Kanungo and others) emerged conspicuous for their commendable service in organizing village reconstruction programme and promoting Harijan welfare. Bari Ashram named ‘Sebaghar’(abode of service) by Gandhiji worked for the social and economic uplift of the villagers by the constructive programmes like promotion of Khadi, anti-untouchability campaign, national language, women’s awakening, prohibition, basic education, adult education, dairy, agriculture, tanning and success…..I would ask you to continue the distribution of medicine. The prototypes of work so well begun in the villages. I leave Sebaghar were instituted in different parts Utkal with happy memories of association of Odisha, which spread the Gandhian with you.’ constructive activities to the remotest The historic Padayatra of Gandhiji corners. A new social, economic and political in Odisha for Harijan welfare had a atmosphere was created in a persuasive way tremendous impact on national life. Despite by these institutions. the formidable resistance of the Sanatanists, the pilgrimage of Gandhiji gave a momentum to the programmes like village reconstruction, Harijan welfare and Khadi throughout Odisha and heralded a new era Balabhadra Ghadai, Principal, M.K. College, of social emancipation. Some of the centres Khiching, Mayurbhanj. OCTOBER - 2019 68.