US President Donald Trump and Mrs. Melania Trump visit Sabarmati

Ashram in Ahmedabad, pay their obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi
Ahmedabad, Monday: US President Donald Trump, Mrs. Melania Trump and India’s Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on their visit to the Sabarmati Ashram here today paid their
obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi and garlanded his portrait with khadi yarns.
Mr. Modi welcomed the Trumps with traditional scarfs. Mr. Trump signed the visitors’ book
and wrote, “To my great friend Prime Minister Modi – Thank you for this wonderful visit.”
Mr. Modi briefed Mr. Trump about the significance of Sabarmati Ashram, also called Gandhi
Ashram. He presented to Mr. Trump as memento a replica of three monkeys, presented by
Buddhist monks of Japan to Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha Ashram in 1933.
Sabarmati Ashram’s Trustee Kartikeya Sarabhai had welcomed Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
A copy of Mahatma Gandhi’s Autobiography and a replica of ‘Charkha’ spinning wheel were
presented to Mr. Trump on behalf of the Ashram. The Trumps tried their hand spinning yarn
at a Charkha.
The Ashram-run Vinay Mandir Middle School girls sang Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite songs
‘Vashnav Jana-re…’ and ‘Raghupati Raghav…’ befitting the occasion.
Others present on the occasion included US President’s daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law
Javed Kushner, Gujarat’s Secretary Mamata Verma, District Collector K.K. Nirala, Trustees
and inmates of the Ashram