In the footsteps of King

Fifty years ago, Rev Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta undertook a historic tour of India — in search of the roots of the non-violent movement for Indian independence. This month, their son, Martin Luther King III, will retrace their footsteps.

Fifty years ago, Rev Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta undertook a historic tour of India — in search of the roots of the non-violent movement for Indian independence. This month, their son, Martin Luther King III, will retrace their footsteps.

HT Image

Relieving the journey

Feb 9, 1959: King, Coretta arrived in Mumbai on PM Jawaharlal Nehru’s invitation.
Over the next month, they travelled to New Delhi and several other cities. King also met Rajendra Prasad and other social reformers; laid a wreath at Rajghat.
March 9: Left for home.

Following his father

Feb 15, 2009: Martin Luther King III arrives in New Delhi
Feb 16: Will attend ‘Living Dream’ concert by Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Zakir Hussain and others.
Feb 18–27: Will visit Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvanantha-puram, Chennai and Kolkata; meet leaders, students.
He’ll be accompanied by prominent US civil rights leaders, including Representative John Lewis, last surviving speaker from 1963 March on Washing-ton, for a portion of the tour.
The tour has been organised by the US mission in India, with the Indian government.