“Be the change that you want to see in the world”. – Mahatma Gandhi

Did you know that…

Mahatma Gandhi loved walking and for short distances it was his preferred mode of transport. But he also hopped onto trains, ships, bicycles, cars, horse carriages, bullock carts and once on an elephant, although never an airplane.

He travelled extensively across India and abroad. As a young man, he went to London to study law. Later, he travelled to South Africa and then back to India. During his struggle for Indian independence from British rule, Bapu travelled to London for independence negotiation conferences several times. He also toured India extensively for campaigns such as the Swadeshi Movement and Dandi March.

Bapu loved ship and train travel. He loved the sea and never felt seasick on his voyages. During the day, he wrote and at night he loved watching the night sky from the deck.

Bapu travelled light, with a handful of clothes and books. During the famous Dandi March of 1930 he meticulously planned the route, stops and instructed villagers to create thatch and bamboo shelters for marchers to rest at night. He and his band of marchers would start walking by 6 a.m, arrive at a village by mid-morning, rest, have lunch and resume walking again until dusk.

During the next summer holidays, it might be a good idea to travel to visit these historic monuments:

Bhimbetka. The rock shelters of Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are ancient cave formations known for prehistoric paintings and evidence of early human life.

Rani-ki-Vav. Sited in Patan, Gujarat, this is a seven-storey deep step well, famous for its beautifully carved figures and intricate sculptures.

Iron Pillar. Sited within the courtyard of the Quwwatu’l-Islam Mosque in Delhi, this 7.2-m ancient structure is renowned for its rust-resistant composition. Dating back to the 4th century CE, it is a testament to advanced metallurgy in ancient India.

Nalanda. Sited in present-day Bihar, Nalanda was one of the world’s first international residential universities, attracting international students and scholars from Korea, China, Turkey, Tibet, Indonesia, Japan and Persia.

From the Mahatma you can learn to appreciate the joy of travelling, You could even grow up to be a travel industry professional and choose it as a career.

If you like traveling, here are some career options you might like:

• Travel writer. This professional travels to different places and writes about her experiences, including landscapes, cultures, food, and local attractions to inform readers. Their work is published in magazines, blogs, guidebooks, or social media platforms.
• Airline Pilot. A trained professional who operates and navigates aircraft. She ensures the safety of passengers and crew by following strict flight procedures. They can work for commercial airlines, cargo carriers, or in the military.
• Cruise ship crew. They work on cruise ships and include staff in various vocations like hospitality, entertainment, engineering, and navigation. Crew members work long hours and often live on the ship for extended periods.
• Photographer. Travel photographers document an area’s landscape, people, culture, customs and history. Their work is published in magazines, websites, travel blogs and social media.