Yatras, Tamil Nadu and outcomes
The HinduA scene in Richard Attenborough’s award-winning film Gandhi encapsulates the importance of yatras for a political leader to achieve a goal. When Mahatma Gandhi says India is an “alien” country to him, his leader Gopal Krishna Gokhale responds, “Well, change that.” “Go and find India. Against the backdrop of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi embarking on the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir, The Hindu traces some of important rallies and marches from the Tamil Nadu soil. Much like Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s contention that his yatra is bereft of any political agenda, Mr. Vaiko had said, “The march is not for deriving any political advantage. But I strongly believe Rahul Gandhi’s yatra will lead to a change in the country and consolidate the political forces against the BJP because Nitish Kumar is also making similar efforts,” contends K. Thirunavukkarasu, a historian of the Dravidian Movement.