Nation-wide 'Chetna Yatra' by Netaji lovers

Cuttack, Jan 15: A 'Chetna Yatra', which would cover over 1500 kms, would be launched on Friday by followers of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose from his birthplace to Imphal, the place where he fought the British in a bid to free the country.

The yatra is scheduled to begin tomorrow and culminate on Netaji Jayanti on January 23. Utkal Vikash Yuva Parishad, which had been organising the yatra for the past few years in Bhubaneswar, has decided to make it a nation-wide exercise this year, said its president Debi Prasad Prusty.

Netaji's grand daughter Jayanti Bose would flag-off the yatra from Netaji’s birthplace at Odia Bazar here tomorrow, it said in a release. [ Interview: "On Bose death, Nehru committed the original sin" ]

"The purpose of the seven-day yatra is to spread Netaji's messages of courage and commitment for nation building among students and youths of the country," the release said.

The participants of the yatra would move separately in groups to Kolkata, Chennai and Madurai from Cuttack. They would then congregate at Guwahati from where the participants would move towards Imphal, it added.

A combined force of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose-led Azad Hind Fauj and Japan had fought the British during World War II around Imphal in 1944.

PTI