THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There was a certain calmness in the air in the morning. As a mark of respect to Gandhiji on his samadhi day, tots from various parts of the city were getting ready to take part in a ‘Santhi yathra’ from Press Club to Gandhi Park at East Fort on Monday.
More than 900 young volunteers donning a white cap and holding placards carrying Gandhian messages, upheld Gandhian principles on the day of the great martyrdom. Quotes of Gandhiji, hailing the virtues of labour, non-violence, sathyagraha etc were displayed on them.
Though the yathra was scheduled to begin only by 9 am, a group of children had already arrived much before that. Yet the programme got delayed by more than an hour.
The kids saw it as a great opportunity to participate in the programme. Bijin S L from Punalal said “I feel so happy and proud to take part in this march. We learn a lot about Gandhiji and this is an opportunity to show our respect to him.
Kids who were not even enrolled in schools too readied themselves for a walk along the thoroughfare. Ancy Rudolf, a three-and-a-half-year old from Poovar, had arrived with her grandmother to take part in the programme.
Though the pre-school student was yet to understand the passion for the father of the nation, she was all smiles to be part of a noble action. Slightly deviated from the typical ‘desi’ costumes, many little Gandhians appeared in modern outfit than wearing khadi or jubba.
When the march concluded at Gandhi Park, children paid floral tribute at the statue of Gandhiji. The march was inaugurated by Transport Minister V S Sivakumar at Press Club. Children up to the age 15 from around 300 Gandhian Bala Kendras in the city took part in the procession.