Chennai to Rameshwaram Pada Yatra to Save Ram Sethu

Col Rajan

Chennai : Col.SS.Rajan (63), Shri. Sanjay Shirodkar (35), Shri. K.S.Srinivasan (59) and Shri. Sahadevan (55) are on their 750 kilometers historic march to Rameswaram to save Ram Sethu. They are likely to reach Pondicherry on 25th May 2007. The Pada Yatra has began on 20th May 2007 from the famous Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Statue on the Marina Beach.

On the day of padyatra, earlier from 6.30 AM onwards, friends from Defense, relatives of Col. Rajan, and Sanjay Shirodkar had assembled at the foot of the Bose Statue.

While the crowd was waiting for COL. Rajan and Sanjay Shirodkar to arrive, Saint Thiagraja’s song on "Sethubandhan" in Sahana raga was rendered with devotion by ladies.Then Shri. D. Kuppuramu (Advocate) from Ramnad who had come down from Bangalore gave an introduction on Ram Sethu movement. Following which Shri. V. Sundaram gave a short speech and sang poems from Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi’s  Achamillai Achamillai…. (There is no fear. Be fearless) . Shri. Kumaravelu BJP’s general secretary (Tamilnadu) had also arrived. Next speaker was Dr. S. Kalyanraman who spoke on the importance of evidences available from various sources. He also narrated how the Ram Sethu was changed into Adam’s Bridge by Joseph Parks a British Botanist. Sri Marimuthu of RSS also gave a speech.

Route Map of the yatra

The meeting ended with Vande mataram sung by a young girl. Col Rajan had arrived by then. In a brief Interview he told that earlier he had many pada yatra to different parts of bharat. Ramsethu is a vital monument. And this walk is for the spiritual uplifment of the whole nation. He expressed hope that he and Sanjay would be able to complete the yatra in some 35 to 40 days time. Bhajans were sung by ladies and Vande matram again. It resembled another freedom struggle. Many passersby and morning beach walkers stopped and participated and listened to the speeches.

Hundreds of youngsters were playing cricket on beach sands, came to watch the procession. Pamphlets and handbill were distributed to them. All along the route there are slums, with fishermen colonies. So there is no dearth of audience. Tiruvanmiyur, was the first stop of the procession where the RSS had organised a first reception for the yatris. 

Highlights

* Shri. K.S.Srinivasan (59) who is a lawyer, had  made plans to go to Varanasi. When he arrived in  Chennai he heard the news of the Rameswaram Pada Yatra that was about to start, without second thought, he thought that it was for a very good cause, and dropped his plans to go to Kasi and joined the team to Rameswaram. Astonishingly now he is travelling In this hot sun barefoot. He is a great inspiration.

* Shri. Sahadevan (55), the ex-Subedar from Indian army; volunteered to drive the Vehicle, that carries all the supplies.

* The car also carries booklets on " RAM SETHU HISTORIC FACTS VS POLITICAL FICTION "a series of six articles  authored by  Shri V,Sundaram, to be distributed on the way. ( that were published by News Today an evening news paper, being publsihed from Chennai, available also on the net)

By GP Srinivasan & BR Haran

Related HJS Campaign
>Save Sree Ram Setu