Patna, April 16, 2017: Hundreds of freedom fighters from across the country started arriving here on Sunday to be honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday to mark the ongoing year-long centenary celebrations of the Champaran Satyagraha, officials said.

"Hundreds of freedom fighters from different states have started arriving in Patna to be honoured by President Pranab Mukherjee on April 17 at the felicitation ceremony as part of centenary celebrations of Mahatama Gandhi's Champaran satyagraha," Vinodanand Jha, an official of the state education department, said.

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Jha said that while some freedom fighters have arrived here on Saturday, others will arrive on Sunday. "Most of the freedom fighters would reach here by Sunday night."

According to Jha, freedom fighters from 19 states — including Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi — would be honoured by the President.

In all, 2,972 freedom fighters from across the country, including Bihar, would be honoured. "As per the plan, 264 freedom fighters from 19 states and 554 selected of 2,708 freedom fighters of Bihar will be honoured by the President," Jha said.

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The year-long celebrations to mark the 100th year of Mahatma Gandhi's first major resistance against British rule, popularly known as the Champaran Satyagraha, began last week in Bihar.

Mahatma Gandhi launched his Satyagraha — a non-violent agitation — against the forced cultivation of indigo by the British rulers in Champaran district in Bihar on April 10, 1917. (IANS)