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12-25-2006, 06:30 AM
file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/TEDWEL%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpgA vintage Ford truck that carried the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi to the river Ganges in 1948 is being repaired for a special ceremony. January 30th is his 58th death anniversary. The Mahatma was shot by a Hindu fundamentalist when he was 78.
The vintage vehicle, unused since 1948, has been lying in a state of disrepair at a museum in Allahabad. Engineers, however, were surprised to find that the car's engine was still in excellent condition, the BBC reported.
Millions attended the funeral of Gandhi who was assassinated in 1948.
India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, rode with Gandhi's ashes in the Ford truck, accompanied by Gandhi's son, Devdas, and freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
The ashes were immersed at the confluence of the rivers Yamuna and Ganges in Allahabad on Feb. 12, 1948. Officials say they aim to have the truck running again by Jan. 30. It will be used on Feb. 12, in a re-enactment of the procession which took Gandhi's ashes to be scattered.
The 1947 model Ford truck was provided and decorated by the military. It was handed over to the fire brigade of the state police for safe keeping.
Later, when a museum was established in Allahabad, the vehicle was transferred to the museum.
Transport officials wanted to take the bus to their workshop for repairs, but museum rules did not allow them.
So the work was carried out inside the museum garage.
The managing director of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Umesh Sinha, had noticed the bus while visiting the museum last August.
The vintage vehicle, unused since 1948, has been lying in a state of disrepair at a museum in Allahabad. Engineers, however, were surprised to find that the car's engine was still in excellent condition, the BBC reported.
Millions attended the funeral of Gandhi who was assassinated in 1948.
India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, rode with Gandhi's ashes in the Ford truck, accompanied by Gandhi's son, Devdas, and freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
The ashes were immersed at the confluence of the rivers Yamuna and Ganges in Allahabad on Feb. 12, 1948. Officials say they aim to have the truck running again by Jan. 30. It will be used on Feb. 12, in a re-enactment of the procession which took Gandhi's ashes to be scattered.
The 1947 model Ford truck was provided and decorated by the military. It was handed over to the fire brigade of the state police for safe keeping.
Later, when a museum was established in Allahabad, the vehicle was transferred to the museum.
Transport officials wanted to take the bus to their workshop for repairs, but museum rules did not allow them.
So the work was carried out inside the museum garage.
The managing director of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Umesh Sinha, had noticed the bus while visiting the museum last August.