HISTORY REVISITED: Veteran Gandhian and freedom fighter Krishnammal Jagannathan collecting salt from salt pans near the Salt Satyagraha Memorial stupi at Agasthiampalli on the Vedaranyam coast in Nagapattinam on Sunday.

VEDARANYAM: Hundreds of Congressmen and a large number of people, including salt manufacturers, merchants, teachers and workers of Vedaranyam, on Sunday re-enacted the Salt Satyagraha march in the coastal town to mark the conclusion of the year-long Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha.

Veteran Gandhian and freedom fighter Krishnammal Jagannathan, who led the march, collected salt from the salt pans near the Salt Satyagraha Memorial Stupi at Agasthiampalli on the Vedaranyam coast. It was on the same day in 1930 that Rajaji led the historic Salt Satyagraha here in protest against the salt levy.

Sunday's march started from the Salt Satyagraha memorial hall in Vedaranyam town, with the rendering of "Vande Mataram" and "Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram" by students of Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam, founded by Sardar Vedaratnam, veteran freedom fighter and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji.

A large number of dignitaries, including A. Vedaratnam, grandson of Sardar Vedaratnam, managing trustee of Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam and president of the Vedaranyam Salt Manufacturers and Merchants Association; P.V. Rajendiran, Congress leader, former MP and president of the Vedaranyam Salt Labourers Association; and family members of freedom fighters paid floral tributes at the stupi.

A large number of people from Thiruthuraipoondi, Ayakaranpulam, Kathiripulam and Nagapattinam joined them. They collected salt which they put into an urn placed it at the feet of Sardar Vedaratnam's statue.

Earlier, P.N. Srinivasan, editor of the monthly Bhartha Mani, hoisted the national flag. Mr. Vedaratnam, Mr. Rajendiran and Ms. Jagannathan spoke. Kumaravelu, vice-president of the Salt Labourers Association, proposed a vote of thanks.

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