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2009 Chennai Press Releases

U.S. Consulate Brings Martin Luther King III to Kerala

Chennai, February 18: Celebrating the longstanding ties between them, the U.S. and Indian governments are commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1959 pilgrimage to India.  Bid farewell by the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Dr. King’s son, Martin Luther King III, will retrace the steps of his father on a tour of India that will take him to New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai and Kolkata.   In February 1959, Dr. King traveled throughout India to study the nonviolent social action movement for Indian independence of Mahatma Gandhi and to meet his followers around the country.  Upon their return to the United States, Dr. King and other leaders of the civil rights movement drew on Gandhi's ideas to transform American society.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai, in partnership with the Government of Kerala and the Indian Council for Gandhian Studies, will bring Dr. King’s son to Kerala.  Martin Luther King III will honor the memory of the late G. Ramachandran, one of the organizers of his father’s visit to India in 1959, by visiting the Ramachandran memorial and receiving an honor guard from 1500 children being trained to be an “army of peace” or Shanti Sena.   Additionally, Mr. King will meet prominent religious leaders and give a public lecture touching on the interfaith nature of the American civil rights movement and movements for social change today.  The government of Kerala is hosting a civic reception, cultural program and dinner to welcome Mr. King to the state.  These programs are intended to highlight the present-day value and need for Gandhi and King’s message of tolerance and non-violence. 

Other events throughout the country include:

  • A multi-media exhibit, “Journeys to Freedom: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Visit to India”
  • Visits to Rajghat and Gandhi Smriti
  • Martin Luther King III to deliver Feb 17 Maulana Azad lecture
  • Wreath laying at site of Mumbai 11/26 terror attacks
  • Visits to Sabarmati Ashram (former Gandhi residence)
  • Interactions and site visits with community organizations dedicated to social activism and the nonviolent peace movement
  • Indian Artists’ Tribute to “The Living Dream” in Chennai featuring film actor Kamal Haasan, poet Vairamuthu and music by A.R. Rahman
  • Visit to Mother House in homage to Mother Teresa
  • AIR interview – recreation of 1959 Delhi Martin Luther King, Jr. interview with AIR by Martin Luther King III