Obama visits Rajghat, pays tribute to ‘hero’ Mahatma Gandhi

NEW DELHI - US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle 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 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 Saturday and headed to Mumbai. They reached Delhi Sunday afternoon and will be here until Tuesday morning when they will leave for Indonesia.