Commemoration of King's India Pilgrimage: Sunday 15 February

[Clayborne Carson]

After greeting Martin Luther King III, his wife Andrea Waters, chief of staff Johnny Mack, and other members of the "Realizing the Dream" staff, I joined Public Affairs Officer Larry Schwartz to visit the American Center for a preview of the American Embassy's new multi-media exhibit "Journeys Toward Freedom: Honoring the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Pilgrimage to India." While at the Center, I also looked in on Hancock's group as they were rehearsing for tomorrow evening's "Living Dream" concert. Then Larry Schwartz and I went to Delhi airport for the arrival of the military plane carrying the Congressional delegation led by Representative John Lewis of Atlanta. the delegation, which was also greeted by the American ambassador to India, included Representatives Loretta Sanchez of California, Shirley Jackson Lee of Texas, Al Green of Texas, Spencer Bachus of Alabama, and Jim McDermott (and his wife Therese) of Washington. Also arriving were former Senator Harris Wofford, and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young (and his wife Carolyn). After deplaning, all of us went to the Gandhi Samadhi memorial where we were joined by the King group, as well as Hancock and Chaka Khan. The group participated in a moving ceremony at the beautiful site that included the laying of a wreath in honor of Gandhi, the signing of the guest book, and brief remarks to the press by King, Lewis, Young and others. In the evening we went to the Ambassador's residence (a classic design that was a model for the Kennedy Center in Washington) for a briefing and reception (including a tour of the Ambassador's impressive garden).