Day 405 | 20 February 2016 | From ShaniMandir Gate, IIT Delhi to Lajpat Rai Chowk

A bunch of beaming padayatris assembled at Shani Mandir, IIT Gate—flush with the contentment knowing how much importance the Presidential Office had given to Sri M and the Walk of Hope. The news and photos of the visit to the Rashtrapati Bhavan uploaded on their official Facebook page had crossed 32 lakhs likes already!

The Journal Of Hope Archive

MonTueWedThuFriSatSun

123

45678910

11121314151617

18192021222324

252627282930

123456

78910111213

14151617181920

21222324252627

28293031

1234567

891011121314

15161718192021

22232425262728

123

45678910

123456

21222324252627

28293031

2345678

9101112131415

16171819202122

23242526272829

1234

567891011

12131415161718

19202122232425

123456

282930

12345

2728293031

2930

123

12345

6789101112

27282930

3031

1234

567891011

12131415161718

19202122232425

262728293031

Among the large group of people joining the regulars today was a bunch of visually-impaired people. The care with which the regulars guided them along and the absolute trust with which they allowed themselves to be led were emotionally touching. At the first stop of the day - the Green Park Free Church - lovely music welcomed the padayatris. The Father addressed the gathering and spoke about how justice was linked to peace. The Lord's Prayer was read out and there was a benediction for the Walk. Sri M also briefly addressed the gathering. He started thus: "Since this walk is for humanity, I'd like to introduce myself first. People must be wondering who this M is. M stands for Manushya. People like to add Sri with respect. I prefer just M.” “We're standing at a church. The practical application of Vedanta is in the Bhagvat Gita. It says, "SarvaBhoota Hite Rataha" meaning 'To have the welfare of all human beings at heart'. In the Sermon on the Mount, it is said, "Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God". No one says this religion or that religion alone can see God. “We started this walk from Kanyakumari. It is said, "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It feels like human beings have lost their flavour. So, we thought that before the salt is completely lost – it won't be completely lost –we must do what we can to add some salt back. What is the salt, of love, peace, harmony, and compassion? That's why we're walking.” “I'm sure there were many who, when we started walking, had pains and even cried in pain. Like the young girl who read out, "Blessed are those who moan for they shall be comforted". Green Park Mosque was the next stop. In probably one of the warmest welcomes accorded to the Yatris at a religious institution, the Moulavi said prayers for the success of the Yatra. He had tears in his eyes as he said that all humans are one and friends, without any animosity towards each other. Sri M recited a prayer in sonorous Arabic and thanked everyone at the mosque for the grand welcome. The Moulavi gently persuaded everyone to have tea before leaving, telling them that it will be proof that they are leaving the Masjid with their hearts filled with sweetness. The walk went inside the sprawling campus of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, which is a premier medical research institute in the country belonging to the Government sector. Walk of Hope National Coordinator,DrPandav - being the head of community medicine at AIIMS – helped as scores of doctors and medical students joined the Walk and the yatris were also served a superb breakfast there. At the last stop today - the Lajpat Rai Bhavan - Sri M said in his address: "Thank you for welcoming us. The kids presented a beautiful skit. I would like to thank all for welcoming us. When we are welcomed at places such as yours, we feel like our yatra will indeed be successful because we believe that all big things start small. And the future of the country lies in your hands. There's an old song in Hindi, 'Nanne Munne Bacche Tere Mutti Mein Kya Hai' and the kids would reply, 'Mutti Mein Hai Takdeer Humari'. We are saying the future of this country lies in your hands. Whatever you do is what India will stand for in the future. We are doing this yatra on foot so we can meet people like you though Lala Lajpat Rai started this work long ago. It's nothing new in our country. It's part of our ancient culture. Just that it breaks some times. We are walking so this break never happens. This isn't a curative; rather it's a preventive. We have children here from the Scouts and Guides as well. Scouts look out for danger and the guides provide guidance. So, you are the guides of the future of our country. We all have to work towards keeping the country together in the future. Look at the smiles on the faces of these kids. We want to ensure that their smiles never fade. That's why if you can join your minds with ours - I know you might not be able to walk with us - then our walk will succeed before it reaches Kashmir." A buffet of fruits awaited the Yatris at the end of the function. Lunch for served for all at the residence of padayatris, Verinder and Sarita Choudhary, after which they returned to Chattarpur Mandir complex.