Barack's tribute to Mahatma: He is a hero not just to India, but to world
Bella Jaisinghani, TNN, Nov 7, 2010, 02.18am IST
MUMBAI: US President Barack Obama's visit to Mani Bhavan, once home now museum to Mahatma Gandhi, was his own tryst with destiny. For someone who is known to have admired the apostle of peace long before he wore the mantle of first Black president of the United States of America, this trip was a personal pilgrimage rather than mere protocol.
At the end of a 30-minute guided tour of the museum, the most powerful left hand in the world wrote on the more convenient left side of the guest 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 said, signing off by putting date to comment.
Elegantly dressed in a grey dress with a three-string pearl necklace around her neck, first lady Michelle Obama was the perfect complement to her motivated husband. She wrote, ''This visit will be one that I will always treasure. The life and teachings of Gandhi must be shared with our children around the world.''
The presidential cavalcade reached Mani Bhavan around 2.55pm, a full 25 minutes ahead of the scheduled arrival of 3.20 pm. The dignitaries were received by Ushaben Gokani, who is the president of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and granddaughter of the Mahatma, as well as Vasant Pradhan, president of Mani Bhavan Sangrahalaya. Obama paid respects at Bapu's bust that is located on the ground floor. However, he neither offered flowers at the altar nor did the trustees garland him as is customary, keeping in view the security advisory. Ushaben Gokani said Michelle Obama embraced her and said the regret of not having met the Mahatma had been partly obliterated by meeting with his granddaughter. Honorary secretary of Mani Bhavan, Ushaben Thakkar, showed the president and his wife around the two-storied structure. They were led through the staircase that is lined with paintings and photographs, some belonging to the period 1917-1934 when Bapu lived here. They also browsed the doll's museum which recreates milestone moments from Gandhiji's life.
A special moment occurred when Obama got his first glimpse of the spartan room where Gandhiji lived. It still contains some artefacts of the time, including the charkha, for it was here that Bapu had learnt to spin khadi. At the end of the tour, the dignitaries returned to the ground floor where they signed the visitors' book. Obama then greeted the trustees one final time and the cavalcade departed.
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