Ela Gandhi, left, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, helps marchers light a peace torch at the start of the Gandhi Luthuli Salt March on Sunday. The torch symbolises peace and non-violence. It was lit at the start of the race at the Phoenix-Gandhi Settlement and carried 22km to King's Park Athletic stadium. Picture: ISMAIL ADAM Ela Gandhi, left, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, helps marchers light a peace torch at the start of the Gandhi Luthuli Salt March on Sunday. The torch symbolises peace and non-violence. It was lit at the start of the race at the Phoenix-Gandhi Settlement and carried 22km to King's Park Athletic stadium. Picture: ISMAIL ADAM
Durban -
Nearly 2 000 people took part in the 10th Gandhi-Luthuli Salt March on Sunday, which snaked its way 17km from Inanda to the King’s Park Athletics stadium.
Among the marchers, who took four-and-a-half hours to complete the journey, was Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi.
She described the 10th Salt March as a success and was encouraged to see more youth getting involved.
“It was exciting to see such a good response from the young people of the community. It is pivotal that the message of non-violence should be spread to our future leaders,” she said.
“Each year the number of people getting involved is growing, and that is encouraging. I am also happy the march took place without any incidents or any problems.”
Phoenix resident, Alan Mahalin Subramoney, 60, who donned a white dhoti (a traditional Indian garment), led from the front and had barely broken into a sweat by the time he completed the journey.
“Gandhi was my inspiration and this is something I will do for the rest of my life. I am feeling one hundred percent – I could even do a return trip… right now.” said a smiling Subramoney.
Another walker who kept pace at the front of the march from beginning to end was Pundit (Hindu Priest) Suresh Singh, 51.
He said the march had been a success and the event seemed to be drawing in more people and growing with each year.
The Gandhi-Luthuli Salt March has become an annual event on the calendar and is a collaboration between the Gandhi Development Trust and the eThekwini Municipality.