Patna: Bapu Tower and Planet Patna jointly organised a special heritage walk titled ‘Bapu March: Walking in the Footprints of Mahatma Gandhi’ in Patna on Sunday morning. The initiative aimed to familiarise young people and city residents with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy, life values and historical sites associated with India’s freedom movement.
A total of 30 participants took part in the four-and-a-half-hour walk. Those present included Bapu Tower Director Vinay Kumar (IAS), Deputy Director Lalit Kumar Singh, Planet Patna Director Dr Azfar Ahmad and well-known Patna-based philatelist Pradeep Jain.
The participation of young people was particularly notable, offering them an opportunity to explore Bihar’s historical heritage and understand Gandhi’s contributions more closely.
Six Historical Locations Covered During the Heritage Walk
During the walk, participants visited six important locations associated with Mahatma Gandhi, India’s freedom struggle and Bihar’s historical legacy.
The locations included:
- Rajendra Smriti Museum: Dedicated to Dr Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President.
- Bihar Vidyapeeth: An important centre of national consciousness and the freedom movement.
- Sadaqat Ashram: One of the major centres of Bihar’s freedom struggle.
- Gandhi Kutir, A.N. Sinha Institute: The historical place where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Patna.
- Gandhi Museum: A museum documenting Gandhi’s life and philosophy of non-violence.
- Gandhi Ghat (NIT Ghat): The site associated with the immersion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes.
The heritage walk concluded at Bapu Tower. Throughout the journey, Kriti Sen and Shyam Priya provided participants with detailed information about the history and significance of the locations.
Bihar Vidyapeeth and Gandhi Museum Officials Welcome Participants
At Bihar Vidyapeeth, Joint Secretary Awadhesh Kumar Narayan welcomed the participants and shared historical accounts associated with Rajendra Smriti Museum, Jhanda Chowk and the Maulana Mazharul Haque Memorial Library.
Similarly, Gandhi Museum Joint Secretary Asif Wasi briefed participants about the institution and Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy. Welcoming the initiative, he emphasised the importance of regularly organising programmes that introduce young people to Gandhi’s principles and values. He also expressed his willingness to support similar initiatives in the future.
Bapu Tower Director Recalls Childhood Memories at Bihar Vidyapeeth
Sharing his experience, Bapu Tower Director Vinay Kumar (IAS) recalled his school days at Bihar Vidyapeeth.
He said that returning to the institution brought back cherished memories of his childhood and made the visit particularly special.
Deputy Director Lalit Kumar Singh also spoke about plans to expand the heritage initiative beyond Patna.
He said that just as Mahatma Gandhi had undertaken his historic march from Patna towards Champaran, Bapu Tower and Planet Patna would jointly explore the possibility of extending their heritage walk to Champaran in the near future.
Students Share Experiences as Heritage Walk Concludes at Bapu Tower
The event concluded at Bapu Tower, where Director Vinay Kumar and Dr Azfar Ahmad thanked all participants for joining the initiative. They encouraged everyone to follow Gandhi’s values and incorporate his principles into their daily lives.
Female students from Career Launcher also shared their experiences of the heritage walk and appreciated the educational value of the programme.
The event was supported by Bapu Tower officials Ajay Kumar Singh (Under Secretary), Arun Kumar Pathak (Under Secretary) and Ajay Kumar (Assistant Section Officer), along with Rahul Kumar from Planet Patna.
The initiative highlighted Patna’s historical significance and the importance of preserving and promoting Bihar’s heritage among younger generations.
