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King finds journey to India transformative

Rahi Gaikwad

“When we return home, we return more committed”

— Photo: AFP

Usha Gokarne, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, greets Martin Luther King III at Mani Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday.

Mumbai: Retracing Martin Luther King Jr.’s memorable pilgrimage to India, his son Martin Luther King III, on Thursday visited the historical building of Mani Bhavan, Gandhiji’s residence here between 1917 and 1934.

Five days into his journey, Mr. King said he found it transformative. It has been an experience he can take back to his country.

“I remember my mother sharing my father’s experience with us, but nothing like having the experience yourself. The journey made us want to quadruple our efforts in spreading the message of peace. I am going to take this experience to our communities. When we return home, we return more committed and more determined,” Mr. King said here at a press conference.

He said that although the U.S. had come a long way in ensuring equal rights, unresolved issues still remained. Referring to the billions of dollars being spent on military operations in Iraq, Mr. King said, “You had to turn the situation around so that more was spent on education and job creation.”

At the Gandhi memorial, veteran civil rights leader John Lewis spoke of incidents from his life, which embodied the redeeming quality of non-violence.

“Back in 1961, when segregation on buses was the norm, I was severely beaten by a white man. After 48 years, the same man came to my Congressional office and said ‘sorry.’ He cried a lot, I cried a little and we hugged. Recently, while waiting at an airport a white man walked up to me and apologised for what the white people had done.”

The American delegation comprising Mr. King, his wife Arndrea Waters King, Mr. Lewis, U.S. Congressman Spencer Bachus and others thanked India for giving the world the message of peace.

“Thank you for giving us a man of peace, non-violence and love,” said Mr. Lewis.

The American guests signed the guestbook at Mani Bhavan.

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