US President Obama on Monday visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, the man whom he has always idolised, even as he expressed a wish for collaboration between the Rajghat Samadhi Committee and the Martin Luther King Foundation to promote the message of peace across the world. Accompanied by his wife Michelle at Rajghat, Mr Obama gifted a piece of stone used in constructing the memorial of Martin Luther King Jr — the pioneer of the US Civil Rights Movement — to the Gandhi memorial.
In the visitors’ book, Mr Obama wrote: “We will always remember the great soul who changed the world with his message of peace, tolerance and love. More than 60 years after his passing, his light continues to inspire the world.” The US First Couple seemed visibly overwhelmed on reaching the memorial at Rajghat about 10.15 am.
Secretary of the Gandhi Samadhi Committee Rajneesh Kumar said the US President described the “Samadhi” as “simple and beautiful”. Mr Kumar added that the respect Mr Obama had for Mahatma Gandhi could be seen in his eyes.
“While the visit of President George W. Bush in 2006 was important, President Obama’s visit is very special,” he asserted.
Mr Obama also asked the officials of the Rajghat Samadhi Committee to look for ways of collaboration between the committee and the Martin Luther King Foundation.
Martin Luther King Jr himself drew inspiration from the principles of Gandhiji in his campaign for racial equality and an end to social discrimination in the US.
Talking to this newspaper, Mr Rajneesh Kumar said, “The US President has asked us to work with Martin Luther King Foundation to promote peace through various interactions like seminars and workshops in the US, India and other countries. This is something we have always wanted to do but could never quite figure out how to go about it. Hopefully with Mr Obama’s guidance, we can move forward in this direction and work towards disseminating Gandhiji’s messages across the world.”
On the request of the US First Couple, Mr Kumar also showed the Obamas what President Bush had written in the Visitors’ book when he had visited Rajghat on March 20, 2006. President Bush had gifted a metallic watch with the White House imprinted on it.