Back to the People

Through the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress tries to find a strong validation for Rahul Gandhi’s leadership and an answer to the image problem that haunts him—that he is inconsistent and does not see campaigns through

- SONI MISHRA

Blisters on his feet, Youth Congress leader Satyam Thakur trails the Bharat Jodo Yatra contingent as it passes through Thiruvananthapuram. The 31-year-old said bringing up the rear of the yatra had its advantages. He can witness the enthusiasm of the people who have turned up to see the yatra sustain long after the vanguard has passed by.

What drives Thakur, district president of the Youth Congress in Palghar, Maharashtra, is the adrenaline rush of being a part of what is touted as the longest padyatra ever attempted in Indian politics. He has been to a hospital en route to get his feet bandaged, and revealed that the hospital authorities refused to accept any payment from him since he is a Bharat yatri. “Pain is a constant during the yatra. But there is also a feeling of pride and great responsibility,” he said.

“Since I am right at the back and half an hour behind the lead yatris, I can see that the people are waiting to cheer the last padyatri. The local residents are offering us coconut water, fruits and tea. Seeing that some of us are limping because of the sores on our feet, we are being offered rides till the next stop, which we, of course, have declined,” he said.

Thakur was a pilot in the US before he returned to his native village in Palghar and involved himself in public service. He said he had to be a part of the yatra since it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and that he wanted to be recognised for having walked with party leader Rahul Gandhi.