Azadi Express reaches Porbandar on Mahatma Gandhis birth anniversary

Countrys first ever Azadi Express, exhibiting the first war of independence in 1857, today made its first halt at Porbandar, the birth place of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

Porbandar, Oct 2 : Country's first ever Azadi Express, exhibiting the first war of independence in 1857, today made its first halt at Porbandar, the birth place of the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

"The train portrays the time period from the first war of independence in 1857 to first Independence Day, August 15,1947" said S. Mohan, divisional railway manager, Bhawnagar.

Visitors felt Porbandar made a befitting first halt for the train.

"This is a very good effort by the government to have this train's first halt at Porbandar," said Pradyuman Bhatt, a visitor to the exhibition.

Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh had flagged off the Azadi Express from New Delhi on September 28 to mark the celebrations of 150 years of the first war of independence (1857), 60 years of freedom from colonial rule, and also the birth centenary of martyr Bhagat Singh.

"The train exhibits the entire freedom struggle and will tell people across the country how we got out freedom and how to protect it," Singh said.

A project of Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), the exhibition will journey throughout the country for eight months and will conclude on May 15, 2008.

It will pass through 70 destinations across the country, staying at each place for two to five days.

The eleven-coach exhibition depicts the 150 years of Indian history by way of photographs, diaroma, cutouts, scrollers and videos.

Each of the first eight coaches carries a specific epoch in the freedom movement and is titled as such.

They carry exhibits under various themes; Kompany Raj; The Lightening - incidents and events related to Barrackpore and Meerut when Indian soldiers revolted against the British; Fire spreads - reflecting the spread of revolt across northern and eastern India; British takeover - showing the defeat of the revolutionary forces, revengeful British campaign against the leaders and masses who took part in the uprising; National Awakening section depicts the formation of Indian National Congress, Partition of Bengal and opposition thereto, Gandhiji's emergence on the scene, the draconian Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh incident; Gandhiji leads - depicts the launch of Non-Cooperation Movement and Britishers ruthless repression, Civil Disobedience Movement, Dandi March; Quit India and Azadi sections show the climax of India's freedom struggle and its culmination into Free India.

Last three coaches focus on the new dawn in our national history and march forward to prosperity and the strengthening of a vibrant democracy.

It also includes various social movements like the Indigo Farmers issue, Champaran incidents, the rise of the nationalist press, patriotic literature, Bhoodan Movement of Acharya Vinoba Bhave and participation of the women in the freedom struggle.

Books, cards and mementos on 1857 and freedom struggle themes will be available at special sale counters in Mobile Train Exhibition.

ANI