08 November,2010 01:23 PM IST | | Agencies
US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on Monday paid tribute to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi when they visited Rajghat, the memorial to the president's 'real hero'.
The visiting president jotted down a long note in the visitor's book while his wife stood beside him. The first couple were later presented a bust of Gandhi and a khadi scroll containing the seven social sins Gandhi wrote about in 'Young India' in 1925.
The couple placed a wreath at the memorial - a black marble platform located on the right bank of the river Yamuna with an eternal flame burning at one end. The entire programme went on for about 20 minutes.
The US president, who visited the Gandhi Museum at Mani Bhavan in Mumbai on Saturday, wrote in the visitor's book: "I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi's life. He is a hero not just to India but to the world."
Obama, accompanied by Michelle, arrived in India on Saturday and headed to Mumbai. They reached Delhi on Sunday afternoon and will be here until Tuesday morning when they will leave for Indonesia.
Obama gifts King memorial stone piece to Rajghatu00a0
Meanwhile, Obama on Monday gifted a piece of stone - a Martin Luther King memorabilia - to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, once again bringing together two of the world's biggest proponents of non-violence.
Wrapped in a box covered in gold paper, the gift was of a piece of white stone from American civil rights activist King's national memorial in Washington. The stone was set on a small black base, embossed with the presidential seal and Obama's signature.
"This is unparalleled," Rajghat committee secretary Rajnish Kumar said, surprised when Obama handed over the King memorabilia.
The committee had earlier handed over a set of gifts, which included three books, a model of a spinning wheel and a bust of Gandhi, to Obama.
The US president had on Saturday pored over King's words written in the Visitor's Book at Mumbai's Mani Bhavan, which had once been home to Gandhi.
