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dated April 8, 1955: Nehru leads a procession

Over four thousand Gadia Lohars on April 6 made a triumphant entry into Chittor Fort to fulfil a pledge their ancestors had taken 400 years ago to set foot there only after it was liberated. Led by Prime Minister Nehru, the Gadia Lohars walked in a procession amidst a fanfare of trumpets and beating of drums to the massive main gate of the fort, sanctified by the heroism of their Rajput ancestors. Over two lakh people lined the two-mile route from the Ghambhiri river bridge to the main gate of the Chittor Fort, through which the procession passed, amidst wild scenes of enthusiasm. Earlier, the Gadia Lohars, who came in their bullock carts, decked with the national flag and their own flags, waited at one end of the bridge for Mr. Nehru to arrive. With their beards parted in the Rajput style, the Lohars chanted slogans like "Victory to the brave land of Chittor," "Chittor is now free and Gadia Lohars are also free" and "Pandit Nehru Zindabad." Life-size portraits of Rana Pratap, their hero who had fought Akbar to the end of his life in a bid to recapture Chittor, formed part of the procession. The Lohars burst into cheers as the Prime Minister arrived in a jeep from the Neemuch airport. Mr. Nehru shook hands with the Lohar leader, and, standing in the jeep, told the Lohars: "Our country is free now and I invite you to come with me, cross this river and enter the Fort of Chittor." Cries of "Chittor Azad" and "Nehru Zindabad" rent the air, as, with a wave of his hand, the Prime Minister asked the procession to follow him to the Fort.

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