“We are humbled to be at Mani Bhavan,” he said. “It’s wonderful to be at this facility where my father had stayed and felt the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. Today, my wife and I feel both their spirits here.”

Wearing garlands made of yarn, King III and members of the Congressional delegation who accompanied him stressed that the journey assumes significance with the election of Barack Obama. “We still have work to do in repairing race relations, but we’ve come a long way since my father first began his struggle,” King III said.

Two members of the delegation — Rep. John Lewis and Ambassador Andrew Young — had worked with King Jr in his struggle.

“No one is born with racial hatred,” Lewis said, “it is taught to us. A man, who had once beaten me up, came to my office a few weeks ago and asked for my forgiveness. He’d always wanted to, but hadn’t been able to bring himself to do it. It was Obama’s election that finally pushed him over.”

Congressman Spencer Bachus said, “You may be wondering what I’m doing here. I’m here to thank India for giving us a man like Mahatma Gandhi. His message of non-violence has given us two things — the courage to do the right thing and freedom from an unjust system.”