"The night we got freedom, we did garba in Swaraj Chowk. We sang 'Asopalavna Toran Lagadya, Aaj Aazadi Aavi Chhe Maare Aaangne Re Lol (We put Aasopalav Toran at our gates to welcome freedom)," recalls 103-year old Kamlaben Dahyabhai from Viramgam, one of the 200 odd centenarian voters felicitated by district administration in the city on Thursday. "We are seeing in front of our eyes, people who have crossed 100 years of age. Ahmedabad district has 719 of them. They have witnessed ups and downs of democracy. They say that they have voted in all the elections. They are inspiration for us, especially at a time when voters are finding excuses for not voting. It is our privilege to felicitate them," said Vikrant Pandey, Collector of Ahmedabad district. A retired teacher 91-year old Natvarlal Pathak said that he could not vote in 1952 elections as he was undergoing training, while in 1957, he was on election duty and so could not vote. However, since then he has voted in all the elections. "Now people's behaviour has changed. Everyone is criticising others. Everyone is drawn by the leaders," said Pathak. 90-year old Manguben Modi from Viramgam said that earlier, campaign was more intense. "I remember stamping the ballot. I have never missed voting," she said. Savjibhai Bharbhidiya of Panchi village in Dholera said that after independence, he got 50 bigha land under land reforms program initiated by then state government. He recalls that entire village was lit up, as if it was Diwali that day. "People had also fired from country pistols," he said. Kamlaben Dahyabhai - 103, Viramgam Campaign for first-time voters Ahmedabad district Collector Vikrant Pandey also said that a special campaign is being carried out to encourage first-time voters to cast their votes. For this, they will be sent special text messages ahead of the voting day. We want to see that everyone casts his or her vote. Salt Satyagraha in Kharaghoda and Dholera too Centurion voters recalled their memories of pre-independent India. They have witnessed the changes India has gone through. Kamlaben Dahyabhai of Viramgam recalls that day how she saw India taking steps towards freedom. "When Gandhiji started the salt satyagraha in Dandi simultaneously there were similar protests across the state. We had salt pans in Kharaghoda and then Britishers would restore different means to stop us from protesting. I realised then India is moving in right direction to attain freedom." Dholera's Savjibhai Bharbhidiya says at their port they recalled the then Salt Act imposed by Britishers and proudly joined many who participated in the satyagraha. "We would hear disturbing stories of cruel Britishers, but that did not deter us to stand united," he says. Activist for salt-pan workers, Sukhdev Patel validated the narrative of these elderly people. "While Dandi March got prominence in history books, other parallel satyagrahas held in Kharaghoda, Dholera and other parts of the state have not been documented properly. Gujarati poet and journalist, late Jhaverchand Meghani had reported satyagrahas in Kharaghoda in detail at that time," Patel told DNA.

Stay updated with all the Ahmedabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.