Ahmedabad: Strolling down freedom lane

AHMEDABAD: After eight years in slum ber, the Kranti Yatra the city's sole 'Freedom Walk', through the walled city was rejuvenated on Sunday. Close to a 100 participants converged for TOI's Rediscover Your City Heritage walk series at the Urdu Shala in Khadia early in the morning to experience the story of how Ahmedabad cradled India's freedom movement in February 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi chose the city to set up his Ashram.Bapu had returned from South Africa in January that year.
The walk also explored the homes of those unsung heroes, who before Gandhiji, had been preparing the city for the freedom struggle ahead. Before the walk began, san toor artist Anuj Anjaria set the mood for visitors. He played the Gujari Todi raag and played two compositions, which in clude Alap Jhor Jhala and Drut teen taal. After this, the visitors were given a brief introduction of the walk by Khadia resident Hemant Bhatt and were then guided by Meghna Sheth and Zalak Patel on the two hour heritage tour. One vistor even dressed up as Gandhiji for the walk. The vistors were told how Bapu met his apostles in Ahmedabad -Sardar Patel Mahadev Desai, Indulal Yagnik and Surendrarai Medh -and others. Some places visited were the bomb factory, United Bengal Home and residence of Sir Chinubhai Baronet.