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First Pak Head of State to visit Rajghat
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 14
Amidst a persistent drizzle and haunting notes of Kabir’s couplets, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today set the tone for the historic Agra summit by paying rich tributes to India’s most revered figure and Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.

“Never has the requirement of his (Gandhi’s) ideals been felt more severely than today, specifically in the context of Pakistan-India relations”, President Musharraf wrote at the visitor’s book at the mausoleum of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.

President Musharraf became the first Pakistani Head of State and also the first dignitary from Pakistan after Foreign Minister Aga Shahi on July 16, 1980, to pay homage at Akhand Jyoti, the immortal light of peace and harmony.

“I have come here to pay respects and homage to the memory of Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Father of the Indian Nation. Mahatma Gandhi devoted his entire life to the struggle for non-violence and peace. May his soul rest in peace”, the President’s message, signed as Gen Pervez Musharraf by a fountain pen, read.

President Musharraf arrived at Rajghat at 10.05 a.m, five minutes ahead of schedule, accompanied by the First Lady, Begum Sheba, where he was received by Urban Development Minister Jagmohan and Chairman of Rajghat Samadhi Samiti and Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande.

Minister-in-waiting Digvijay Singh accompanied him along with Pakistani Foreign Minister, Abdul Sattar and High Commissioner to India Ashraf Jehangir Qazi.

Attired in a spotless white sherwani, the Pakistan President paid floral tributes to the messiah of peace by offering a military salute.

As any visitor to Rajghat, he also took off his shoes in the foreclosed enclosure and replaced them with a pair of plastic slippers before laying a wreath on the florally decorated mausoleum built on a single piece of black granite slab.

After placing the wreath on the bedecked samadhi, the President observed a two-minute silence and circumbulated the mausoleum before offering rose petals. He showered more petals at the request of camerapersons.

Ms Deshpande presented a set of three books — “The Mind of the Mahatma, a collection of Gandhi’s articles,” My Experiments With Truth, his autobiography, and “Mahatma Gandhi:100 Years”, a book by former Indian President, Dr S. Radhakrishnan.

President Musharraf was also presented a CD-ROM, a charkha (spinning wheel, India’s symbol of swadeshi as propounded by Gandhi) made of rosewood.

Nostalgic homecoming for Pak President
Presents gifts to childhood ‘Amma’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 14

Kashmiro Devi greets General Pervez Musharraf inside the ancestral house, which once belonged to the President’s grandfather, in New Delhi on Saturday. — Reuters photo Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf (C) is escorted through his ancestral house in the Daryaganj section of New Delhi on Saturday. — Reuters photo Curious onlookers at Neharwali Haveli, ancestral home of General Musharraf, during his visit on Saturday. — PTI photo

“I feel nostalgic.... I am very very happy to be here”, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said on his homecoming at Neharwali Haveli in a congested Daryaganj lane where he spent the first four years of his life.

The excitement over the return of the most-famous resident of the haveli was however marred by the displacement of two other inmates both orphans, who spent hours in confinement in their home which was partially demolished to facilitate free movement for the President.

Surrounded by security personnel and virtually prevented from interacting with the residents, President Musharraf today spent 20 minutes at the haveli.

Sanitised both from the point of security and cleanliness, the haveli was apparently unrecognisable not only to the visiting dignitary but also to local MP Vijay Goel and local legislator Shoaib Iqbal, the present owners of the haveli, the Jain family, Delhi Police Commissioner Ajay Raj Sharma, and General Musharraf’s former maid Kashmiro Bai.

But for some inexplicable reason, Ripu Daman and her brother Zenny, the orphans, were prevented from meeting the Pakistani President. They were directed to confine themselves to their single room. And to ensure that they did not venture out, an armed policeguard was stationed outside.

At the entrance General Musharraf was received by Kashmiro Bai. Moved by the gesture, he hugged her and said “Amma”. Recollecting the old days she said, “Beta kaise ho (son, how are you).”

As a gesture, the President presented her with a length of suiting and $ 200.

Nonagenerian Kashmiro Bai, also known as Anaro, guided him to the haveli which was florally decorated and a specially bedecked entrance was installed to welcome the dignitary.

Taking his steps towards the haveli, General Musharraf said he remembered the existence of a gate and a pillar at the site. Little remains of the heritage building left by a four-year-old Musharraf when he migrated to Karachi in 1946.

A specially prepared sharbat was offered to the Pakistan President and First Lady Begum Sehba Musharraf.

The First Lady, who was on her first visit to her “sasural,” took keen interest in the architecture of the haveli and the stories narrated by the residents.

A strong sense of camaraderie prevailed among the people in the haveli. Mr R.K. Jain, current resident of a portion of the haveli, took the opportunity to urge the Pakistani leader to resolve the disputes between the two countries.

“Musharraf Sahib, aap jis kam ke liye yahan aaye ho, woh pura ho aur dono mulkon ke beech friendly relations hon (Mr Musharraf, we hope you succeed in your mission and hope for friendly relations between the two neighbours)”, Mr Jain told General Musharraf.

“Inshallah ( God willing)”, was the terse reply of the President.

An exhibition of 26 maps and photographs was on display in the courtyard of the haveli and General Musharraf took keen interest in the items. The exhibits include the oldest map of Delhi depicting Shajahanabad in 1807. The other maps — circa 1850, 1914, 1944, and 2001 — brought the changing face of the Capital in its myriad dimensions over two centuries.

Rare paintings and lithographs depicting Delhi in pre-and post-1857 period were part of the exhibition which was organised by the Delhi Institute of Heritage Research and Management.

A book on Neharwali Haveli and General Musharraf’s heritage was presented to him by Prof Makkhan Lal of the institute. Local legislator Shoiab Iqbal presented two books on the history of Delhi.