Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha’s 96th anniversary observed

Trichy: The 96th anniversary of the historic Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha was observed in Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district on Thursday, with Gandhians and Congress workers reenacting key moments from the 1930 freedom movement.The commemoration marked the Salt Satyagraha march led by freedom fighter C Rajagopalachari as part of Mahatma Gandhi's Civil Disobedience Movement. Rajaji had led more than 100 volunteers from Trichy to Vedaranyam to defy the British salt laws. As part of the anniversary observance, Gandhians led by D Sakthi Selvaganapathi began a symbolic march from the residence of freedom fighter T S S Rajan in Trichy on April 13. The marchers reached Vedaranyam on April 28 and were received by residents and members of the Salt Satyagraha Reenactment Marchers Reception Committee. On Wednesday, participants observed a fast and sang patriotic songs at the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha Memorial, recalling Rajaji's original protest. On Thursday, the Gandhians paid floral tributes to busts of freedom fighters, including A Vedaratnam, K Vairappan and V Subbaiya, in Vedaranyam. Later in the evening, they marched to the Salt Satyagraha Memorial Pillar at Agasthiyampalli, where the salt laws were defied in 1930. The participants took an oath on national integration, picked up handfuls of salt and raised slogans. Former Congress MP P V Rajendran led the commemorative events. A Vedarathinam, grandson of freedom fighter Sardar Vedaratnam, presided over the programme as chief guest.