Indian Ambassador holds reception on Dr King's birth anniversary

In the first such initiative by the Indian Embassy, Ronen Sen, Indian Ambassador to the United States, held a black-tie reception at his residence on Sunday to commemorate the 77th birth anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

The gala event, organised in partnership with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Celebration Day Committee Inc, was attended by a large number of prominent African Americans as well as those who had been closely associated with Dr King and had met Mahatma Gandhi.

Some State Governors and US Congressmen, who could not make it to the event, sent special messages on the occasion, expressing appreciation for this initiative by the embassy to celebrate the legacy of Dr King.

The messages also drew attention to the role played by Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation in inspiring the life and work of Dr King.

Speaking on the occasion, Sen said Dr King's legacy was close to the hearts of the people of India. He recalled the visit of Dr and Mrs King to India in 1959 as guests of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister.

On that occasion, Sen noted, Indians gathered in multitudes to greet Dr King wherever he went and were inspired and entranced by his message of universal brotherhood.

Describing Dr King as an apostle of peace and human dignity, Ambassador Sen said his inspiring 'I have a dream' speech, made in 1963, would resonate in the ears of generations to come.

Sen announced the decision of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to sponsor an annual lecture to honor the legacy of Gandhi and King. The lectures are to be delivered by prominent people from both countries, alternately in India and the US.

James Speight, president, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Celebration Day Committee Inc, also addressed the gathering and introduced the winners of an essay competition for school students organised by the Committee on the Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

In his remarks, Speight called upon members of the African American community to create violence free neighborhoods and to take a pledge of non-violence.