A unique tribute to Mahatma Gandhi's legacy is set to unfold on the roads of Gujarat early next year. In a remarkable initiative, a group of 15 retired senior officers of the Indian Army, many in their 60s and holding ranks of Lieutenant General and Major General, will retrace the historic 400-kilometer Dandi March on foot.
Echoes of Dandi: A Journey of Peace and Introspection
The walk, aptly named "Echoes of Dandi: Retracing the Historic Path on Foot," is scheduled from January 3 to January 17, 2025. This comes four years ahead of the centenary of the original Salt Satyagraha, which Mahatma Gandhi led from March 12 to April 6, 1930, against the British salt monopoly. The participating veterans, hailing from various parts of the country including Lucknow, aim to celebrate, inspire, and embrace Gandhi's timeless message of non-violence.
Lieutenant General (retired) Anil Puri, one of the key organizers based in Lucknow, revealed that the idea was conceived around 18 months ago. "We thought that we had to see violence sometimes in our defence services because that was a part of our ‘kartavya' (duty) to maintain peace. But now is the time to spread the message of peace too," he stated. He drew a poignant parallel, noting that Gandhiji was 60 years old during the original march, and he and his fellow veterans are now 60-plus, making the endeavor deeply personal.
Not a Reenactment, But a Personal Pilgrimage
The retired officers are clear that their walk is neither a political statement nor an attempt to recreate history. "We do not possess Gandhiji's serenity, moral stature, or singular sense of mission," clarified Lt Gen (retd) Puri. "Instead, the intent is far more modest—to understand, in a small and personal way, what Bapu may have experienced emotionally and physically during that long march."
He described the Dandi Path as more than a physical challenge. "It is an invitation to frugality and introspection—to feel the heat and dust, fatigue and discomfort, to slow down enough to observe," Puri added. The journey is seen as a way to witness the peaceful rhythm of rural India, contrasting sharply with urban life.
Meticulous Planning for a Two-Week Trek
The logistics of the two-week, 400km journey have been carefully planned. The 15 participants will converge in Ahmedabad to begin, with some joining at different stages. Health and safety are top priorities, with the group carrying basic first-aid and medicines, and planning to use local government medical facilities if needed.
Accommodation will primarily be at the Dandi Path Yatri Nivas, covering all the places where Gandhi stayed during his 24-day walk, including the Santram Mandir in Nadiad. An integral part of the march will be interactions with local communities, school and college students, and village leaders along the route.
Lieutenant Colonel (retired) V Srinivasan called the walk a "long-cherished dream," meticulously planned along the route envisioned by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sarojini Naidu. The veterans will also be joined by NCC cadets and civilians during various stretches of their peaceful endeavor.
