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                            GO Memphis Article
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                If I can dream: Gandhi, Elvis share vision


By Michael Donahue
August 4, 2003

Mohandas Gandhi and Elvis Presley were alike in at least one way, said 
Lalit Mansingh, India's ambassador to the United States: They cared about 
children. 

The ambassador was the special guest at the Gandhi Exhibit Inaugural Gala 
presented by the Indian Community Fund for Greater Memphis Friday night at 
Woodland Hills. The dinner followed an inauguration ceremony for the 
exhibit at the National Civil Rights Museum. The exhibit was installed 
in April for the 35th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's death. 

During his speech before dinner, the ambassador concluded with some words 
"from the most famous son of Memphis, Elvis Presley." 

He quoted Elvis: "I figure all any kids need is hope and the feeling that 
he or she belongs. If I could do or say anything that would give some kid 
that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world." 

The ambassador said, "It is difficult to imagine two more dissimilar 
personalities than Elvis Presley and Mahatma Gandhi. And yet the words 
of Elvis Presley are strangely close to Gandhi's thinking when he said 
that he dreamt of an India where he would be able to wipe the last tears 
of the last child." 

The ambassador said he was impressed with the National Civil Rights 
Museum. "I was expecting to feel his (King's) presence and I did when I 
to the museum." 

Yash Chopra, one of the guests, said the Gandhi exhibit was something of 
which Memphis's Indian community could be proud. And it "sends a message 
of nonviolence in a city where it is much needed." 

Narquenta Sims, manager of the mayor's office of multi-cultural and 
religious affairs, gave the ambassador the key to the city from Mayor 
Willie Herenton and a certificate of appointment from Shelby County Mayor 
A C Wharton making him an "honorary Shelby County citizen." 

Shaila Karkera coordinated the dinner, which included food from Amber 
Palace. 

Attending were Madan Birla, president of the Indian Community Fund for 
Greater Memphis, and his wife, Shashi, Beverly Robertson, executive 
director of the museum, Anirudh Pareek, Bala and Arti Balakrishna, Manoj 
Chotra ni, Arti Kumar, Sanjay Dave, Ankita Baxi, Alex and Push pam 
Talaiver and their daughter, Ruth, Sandeep Pednekar, Dave and Angela 
Robinson, Jere Gerard, Rishi Chop ra, Lata Chopra, Sohil Shah, Punam Shah, 
Rohit Rao, Dr. Ashok and Dr. Bina Rao, Dr. Bhas kar and Prya Rao, Dr. Mo 
and Cindy Gehi, Theresa Wong, Shivani Singh, Father Richard Cortese, 
Father Mathew Joseph, Sharad and Punam Chitalia, Sudhir and Archana 
Agrawal, Dr. Gha shyam Das Heda, Gwen Harmon, Barbara Andrews, Evelyn Hill, 
Tad and Tracy Laurit zen Wright, Ann and Dudley Langston, Sheila 
Edmundson and Geoffrey Red ich, Dr. Ben L. and Asha Kedia, Larry and 
Libby Ennenga, Claude and Astrid Bra gaza, Joseph Denis, Nina Denis and 
Harish and Urmi Vish ria. 

Excerpted from:
http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/entertainment_columnists/article/0,1426,MCA_494_2156611,00.html
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Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html 
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