Colonel P. John William and Colonel Ratna Sundari, TPWM, completed a 40-day 'Padayatra' (walking to meet people) on July 27th, 2023, at Trivandrum Central Corps. This fulfilled the 'Kowdiar Manifesto' declaration made during the installation service. Lt. Colonel J. Daniel Raj, Chief Secretary, inaugurated the Padayatra for the spiritual development of the territory after 40 days. It was an unforgettable experience for people of all ages and the neighbours of the Salvation Army centres. The leader, accompanied by a group of people, travelled by foot through 'God's own country', reminding everyone of the beginnings of the Salvation Army in India. The Corps and institutions were decorated colourfully, and people waited from early morning until midnight to meet the territorial leaders and hear the lessons of the Kowdiar manifesto, which calls for reducing the gap between officers and soldiers, revamping children and youth ministry, restoring women's empowerment and leadership development, reclaiming best practices and governance, and rethinking the sustainability of the territory's mission and ministry.
During the Padayatra, people had the opportunity to discuss the Salvation Army and contemporary issues with the territorial leaders for hours, sharing their grievances and expectations. Some Corps met the leaders for the first time in 20 or 30 years. The visits made it possible to evaluate and study every nook and corner of the land and buildings, including vacant lands. The team preferred to eat what the people prepared for them and stayed wherever it was convenient for each Corps and institution.
Fifteen thousand people joined the effort as the Padayatra covered more than 6000 km to visit 307 Corps, 25 institutions, and plant 210 coconut trees. The team included the Territorial Youth Secretary, Property Secretary, Training College staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and a few Soldiers from the Trivandrum Central Corps, with major sponsorship from the Trivandrum Central Corps.
The Padayatra provided many opportunities to address issues in schools and hospitals and unveil the possibilities of local resources that had remained unaddressed for years. Through this process of scanning the territory, the territorial leaders gained an understanding of everything within 40 days and paved the way for the territory's development through the 'Padayatra 2023'.
>> More Photos
Reported by Lt. Colonel Saju Daniel, Secretary for Programme Administration, India South Western Territory
