To discover more of the story of its Independence, Olie Hunter Smart takes on an immense challenge to walk the length of India, a 4,500km journey over seven months seeking out untold stories of Independence and Partition.

Undertaken in 2017, Olie’s route took him over gruelling snowy mountain passes high up in the Himalayas, battling intense heat in the northern plains, and being drenched to the bone by monsoon rains as he walked through the rural heartland of the country.

Following in Gandhi’s footsteps, Olie immersed himself in the culture, being invited in by so many of the wonderful people he encountered, documenting shocking and heartfelt first-hand accounts of India’s struggle for freedom gained 70 years earlier.

You can find out more about Olie on his website.

Walking in the Nubra Valley ( © Namgyal Porpa)

Old Wall

Interviewing ( © Jonny Baba)

A not too busy railway