The Hindu : New Delhi News : “Azadi Express” begins journey

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 29, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

“Azadi Express” begins journey

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: “Azadi Express,” commemorating the 150th anniversary of the First War of Independence and 60 years of freedom, chugged off on its 70-station eight-month-long journey across the country from Safdarjung Railway Station here on Friday – birth centenary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

The train was flagged off by Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh in the presence of Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.

Mr. Singh said the National Implementation Committee had zeroed in on such a show-window to generate awareness about the freedom struggle among people in different parts of the country.

Mr. Dasmunsi urged youth to revive the spirit of patriotism that united the country during the freedom struggle. Also, the ideals of martyrs such as Bhagat Singh ought to be emulated to guard the hard-earned freedom.

Categorised into three sections – the First War of Independence, the freedom struggle, and the country’s progress since 1947 — the exhibition has been mounted on 11 coaches. The 12th coach has been transferred into a sales counter for khadi, curios, and other products connected with the freedom struggle.

From Delhi, the train is headed straight for Mahatma Gandhi’s birthplace, Porbandar in Gujarat, in time for his birth centenary on Tuesday. Thereafter, it will make its way throughout the country to return to the Capital on May 10, 2008. The last leg of the journey will start from Meerut to mark the historic march of the revolting sepoys to the Capital on May 10, 1857.

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