M A I N   N E W S

Humayun’s tomb spectacular: Obama
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 7
Obamas preferred Humayun’s Tomb to Taj Mahal, the most popular Indian monument, for security reasons and it must be on the mind of Michelle Obama as she queried senior Archaelogical Survey of India official KK Muhammad, who had the proud task of showing the couple around, about the differences between the two wonders of Mughal era.

The red stone architecture left Barack and Michelle Obama floored. He wrote in the visitor’s book: “Through the rise and fall of empires, Indian civilisation has endured and led the world to new heights of achievement. The world owed a profound debt to India and its people.” His wife endorsed his views as she put her signature below his.

The quiet aura of the tomb did its trick the moment Obamas had the first glimpse of it, and “spectacular” was the adjective the president used to describe it.

Obamas drove to the tomb, which was built around 70 years before the Taj Mahal. They spent around 40 minutes there. If the Obamas found their visit memorable, 14 children of labourers working at the heritage had a lifetime experiences as they shook hands with the American dignitaries and accepted their gifts.

They had wished to meet children from underprivileged background and these kids, who study in a tent school run by the ASI as their parents work in the monument, came in handy. The kids, dressed in their school uniforms, gave Obamas a slate that read “Welcome to His Excellence President Obama and his wife”.

The kids were accompanied by some workers and they all posed for a group photograph. Obamas gifted the kids a silver bookmark with presidential seal having Obama’s signature.