Pune: Yerwada jail inmates to sing bhajans in Gandhi yard on October 2

Pune: A group of inmates from Yerwada Central Prison in Maharashtra's Pune city will recite 'bhajans' in the jail's Gandhi Yard, where the famous 'Poona Pact was signed, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on Wednesday. The pact was signed between Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Madan Mohan Malviya and other negotiators from the two sides on September 24, 1932 on reservation for 'depressed classes', in a bid to end the fast that Gandhi was undertaking in the jail.

Gandhi was protesting against the British government's announcement of the 'communal award', which was considered as one of the means to divide and rule in India. After the pact was signed, Gandhi ended his fast.

"Gandhiji spent a considerable time in Yerwada jail during the freedom struggle. The famous 'Poona Pact' was also signed here under a tree. To mark the 150th birth anniversary of Bapu, we have decided to organise a series of events in the Gandhi Yard on October 2," the prison's prison superintendent, U T Pawar, said. The jail has a 'bhajani mandali' comprising some inmates who, with the help of some musical instruments, will be performing bhajans on Wednesday, he said. -- PTI