Obama pays homage to Gandhi, plants sapling

US President Barack Obama laid a huge wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat here Sunday, also planted a sapling of 'peepal' in the complex on the bank of the Yamuna river.

Accompanied by Minister in Waiting Piyush Goyal and Rajghat officials, Obama placed the wreath of white flowers with a bow made of red, blue and white coloured ribbons, signifying the tri-colours of the US flag on top.

Obama, accompanied by wife Michelle, arrived in the capital Sunday morning on a three-day state visit and will be the chief guest at India's 66th Republic Day parade Monday.

The entire Rajghat complex, including the black granite platform and the white marble walls around the memorial, was decked with yellow and orange marigold flowers.

Obama observed a moment of silence and went around the platform, which has Mahatma Gandhi's last words 'Hey Ram' inscribed on it, and offered red rose petals at the memorial of the apostle of peace.

He then folded his hands before walking to the nearby office to sign the visitor's book.

"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 his spirit of love and peace - among all people and nations," he wrote in the visitors' book at Rajghat. He then signed the book.

Obama, the first non-white president of the US, has often invoked the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and described him as an "inspirational figure".

The US president was presented a bust of Father of the Nation, a charkha (spinning wheel), a scroll made of khadi which had the seven social sins printed on it and three books which include Gandhi's autobiography "The Story of My Experiments With Truth".

"We presented him a Gandhi bust, charkha, a scroll made of khadi which has the seven social sins printed on it, khadi vastra and three books which include Gandhi's autobiography, Mind of Mahatma Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi 100 years," Rajnish Kumar, secretary, Rajghat Samadhi, told IANS.

The US president also planted a sapling of 'peepal' tree in the complex of the memorial.

This is Obama's second visit to Rajghat. He had visited the memorial in his previous India visit in November 2010 as well.

On his last visit Nov 8, 2010, Obama had written on the guest book: "We will always remember the great soul who changed the world with his message of peace, tolerance and love. More than 60 years after his passing, his light continues to inspire the world."