Dandi Path Walk Day Three Shows Power of Community Spirit
The Dandi Path Walk shows unity between past ideals and present action
Day Three of the Dandi Path Walk unfolded with quiet purpose and deep community engagement as ten walkers began their journey at 7:00 a.m. from Nadiad, after taking the blessings of the Maharaj of Sant Ram Mandir. Such spiritual beginnings are common in long public walks in India, especially those linked to history and moral values. Temples often serve as places of collective strength, where walkers seek calm, discipline, and focus before long journeys. The spiritual send-off set the tone for the day—measured, grounded, and full of goodwill—as the group embarked on the 23-kilometre walk to Anand, reaching their destination by 12:30 p.m., a steady pace that reflected both preparation and commitment.
The morning departure was marked by a warm and disciplined reception from NCC cadets, who greeted the walkers at the start point and accompanied them through the city of Nadiad. The National Cadet Corps has long played a role in nurturing discipline, service, and civic responsibility among youth across India. Their presence added youthful energy and a sense of continuity between generations, echoing the enduring relevance of the ideals behind the original Dandi March, which itself was built on discipline, unity, and peaceful action.
Along the route, the walkers experienced repeated gestures of affection and respect from local communities. At nearly every two kilometres, residents stepped forward to embrace the walkers, garland them, and apply a tilak. Such traditional acts of welcome are deeply rooted in Indian culture and often signify respect for those seen as carrying a social or moral cause. What stood out unmistakably was the prominent role played by women—from welcoming the group to leading the rituals of greeting—underscoring the quiet strength and participation of women in community life and public memory. In many villages, women act as keepers of tradition and local history, and their visible involvement reflected how the message of the walk resonated at the household level.
One particularly meaningful interaction took place at Utarsandiya, where the walkers met smartly turned-out ex-servicemen and the village sarpanch. Encounters with veterans often add a layer of gravity to such journeys, as ex-servicemen symbolise service, sacrifice, and discipline. The sarpanch shared how local funds had been mobilised to revive a beautiful, long-neglected water body, an initiative that resonated strongly with the walkers’ own ethos of collective responsibility and grassroots action. Across rural India, community-led water restoration has become essential in addressing water scarcity, showing how local leadership and shared effort can revive natural resources.
Later in the day, the walkers were received at VV Nagar College, Nadiad, where they engaged in a deeply intimate and informal interaction with NCC cadets. Colleges often act as spaces where history meets young minds, and this exchange reflects that role. The interaction went beyond formal addresses, becoming a conversation about service, discipline, citizenship, and the lived meaning of walking the Dandi Path in contemporary India. Such dialogues help students connect historical movements with present-day responsibilities, making ideals feel relevant rather than distant.
The day also produced an unexpected moment of drama. Just 500 metres from the halting place, a bull suddenly charged at one of the walkers. Encounters with stray cattle are not uncommon on rural roads, and they can quickly turn dangerous. Displaying remarkable presence of mind, the walker caught the animal by its horns and calmly guided it away, averting injury and turning a potentially dangerous incident into a story of composure and courage. This moment reflected the mental alertness and calm control that long-distance walkers often develop over time.
Day Three concluded in Anand not merely as a successful transit, but as a reaffirmation of the enduring bond between history, community, and lived action, where remembrance walked hand in hand with people. The journey from Nadiad to Anand showed how the spirit of the Dandi Path continues to live through shared stories, local participation, and quiet acts of courage. Each step taken that day carried echoes of the past while firmly standing in the present, reminding all involved that history is not only remembered in books but also kept alive through movement, dialogue, and community connection.
