Luther's son to meet Mahatma's grandson

KOLKATA: Call it the craftsmanship of destiny. Decades after Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr inspired the two largest democracies in the world, their descendants are set to meet in Kolkata.
On February 26, Martin Luther King III, son of Martin Luther King Jr, will be interacting with Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi as part of a series of engagements that the civil rights activist has lined up for his day-long trip to Kolkata, his maiden visit to the former capital of British India.
"It's really exciting that he (Martin Luther King III) would get to meet a descendant of the Mahatma who had been a source of inspiration for his father during the civil rights movement in the US," American Center director Douglas Kelly told TOI. He added that Martin Luther King III's trip comes exactly 50 years after his famous father visited Kolkata.
Sources said a meeting with Gopalkrishna Gandhi could be a great learning experience for Martin Luther King III since the former has not been the typical governor. Gopalkrishna Gandhi has always been the one both the government and Opposition turn to for coming up with a solution to contentious issues.
"Apart from this meeting, Martin Luther King III will also deliver a lecture, visit Mother House and participate in a small function to be held on Martin Luther Sarani (earlier known as Upper Wood Street) during his stay in Kolkata," Kelly said. As on date, no meeting with CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is on the agenda, he added.