Commemoration of King's India Pilgrimage: Monday 16 February

[Clayborne Carson]

The delegation visited the Gandhi Smriti where they were met by its director, Savita Singh, and Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee, a grand-daughter of Gandhi. There are many photographs recording the emotional event. The Kings placed a wreath at Gandhi's Samadhi, site of Gandhi's assassination in 1948, and other delegation members spread flower petals to honor Gandhi. The delegation then toured the surrounding exhibits on Gandhi's life and walked through the nearby museum, which included the room where Gandhi spent his last month. After greetings by Singh and Bhattacharjee and an appreciation speech by King (followed by Lewis, Brachus, Young, and other delegates), everyone enjoyed an outdoor buffet Indian lunch. This was followed by a stop at the opening of the American Center 50th anniversary exhibit; a lunch at Hyderbad House hosted by the Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma; a brief discussion with Chief Justice of the Indian Supreme Court, Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, who became India's first Dalit (formerly known as Untouchable) Chief Justice in 2007. After the congressional delegation met with Congress party head Sonia Gandhi, the afternoon culminated in our visit with Indian President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at her official residence, Rashtrapati Bhavan. I was told by Embassy representatives that this delegation was given unusual access to the top levels of the Indian government in recognition of the high esteem accorded by King and Gandhi. These enlightening but rather formal events were followed in the evening by Herbie Hancock's rousing "Living Dream" concert at Siri Fort Auditorium. The audience responded warmly to George Duke and captivating singing by Chaka Khan and Dee Dee Bridgewater.