Rourkela: In the midst of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (Platinum jubilee of Indian Independence) celebrations, the ‘Ahimsa Rath’ arrived in Rourkela on Monday.
The Ahimsa Rath, flagged off on August 15, is touring the State to spread the Gandhian doctrine of nonviolence. This mobile van, preaching nonviolence, formally entered the Steel City at BisraChowk today afternoon.
Soon after, it reached the Government Autonomous College, where Commissioner of Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC), Dr SubhankarMohapatra welcomed the Ahimsa Rath at a programme organised by the RMC.
Among others, Government Autonomous College Principal Bijay Kumar Behera, Lecturers, Students, and RMC staff and officials were present at the welcome ceremony during which, a tribal dance was performed by local artists.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Mohapatra said, “The country is not fighting against any foreign force or nation. However, we are battling certain other issues such as cleanliness, drug-free society, illiteracy, and poverty. We need to unshackle our country from these ills.”
On the occasion, noted freedom fighter, Late ShriBanshidharDwivedi’s wife DamayantiDwivedi and son Santosh Jagannath Dwivedi were felicitated. A local drama club presented a skit titled ‘Gandhi’s Bharat’ during the event.
Similar programmes were held at RMC office in Udit Nagar, VSS Market in Chhend, and NAC Market in Koel Nagar. People in large numbers thronged the venues to attend the programmes and hailed Mahatma Gandhi’s way of life – ‘Ahimsa’.
