Obama Pays Tribute To Mahatma Gandhi Drawn From Martin Luther King Jr

President Barack Obama, who considers Gandhi as among his biggest influences, honoured the Mahatma at New Delhi's Raj Ghat a few hours after he reached New Delhi on Sunday as the Chief Guest at the 66th Republic Day celebrations. Obama placed a wreath on the memorial and also folded his hands, according to indiatoday.com.

After coming to India on his crucial three-day trip to become Chief Guest at Republic Day's Parade, the President went straight to Rajghat after his ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, according to zeenews.com.

In the visitors' book, Obama wrote, "What Dr Martin Luther King Jr said then remains true today. 'The spirit of Gandhi is very much alive in India today. And it remains a great gift to the world. May we always live in the spirit of love and peace- among all people and nations."

He was presented a replica of Gandhi's famous 'charkha' by officials at the memorial. He also planted a sapling of a peepal tree at Rajghat and wrote in the book for visitors.

In February, 1959, Martin Luther King had paid homage to Bapu at Rajghat, and explained: "To other countries, I may go as a tourist but to India I come as a pilgrim... if this age is to survive, it must follow the way of love and nonviolence that [Gandhi] so nobly illustrated in his life," according to indianexpress.com.

President Obama had made a reference to Gandhi multiple times, even in 2009, when he was given the Nobel Peace Prize and gave an acceptance speech. He was asked who would be his most favourite personality, dead or alive, to have dinner with, to which he had replied that it would be Gandhi.

In 2010, he wrote in the Visitors' Book: "It's a great honour and privilege to visit Mahatma Gandhi memorial, who was a great person who inspired the whole mankind with peaceful means."