Humayun, Qutub off Africa first ladies’ itinerary

In a move that has raised many eyebrows, the Modi government has decided that 17 spouses of visiting African heads of state and government on Thursday will visit only Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in East Delhi, among the various renowned places in the national capital, whereas both the historical Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb did not make it to the itinerary. An official in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) justified the decision, saying that only three-to-four hours were available for sight-seeing. For the visiting spouses, the MEA has also planned an Indian culinary experience, a fashion show featuring handlooms from Benares and interaction with rural African and Indian women who have become solar energy “engineers” after training with the “Barefoot College” initiative located in Rajasthan.

The MEA officials said the spouses are also to attend the evening banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday and hence the itinerary was not meant to be too tiring for them.

Akshardham Temple was selected as a venue for the visiting African spouses since it is “classic, timeless and enduring”, said the official. But, when queried about the fact that the Akshardham Temple was built only a few years ago, whereas both the Qutub Minar and the Humayun’s Tomb are centuries-old monuments, the official said that visits to other monuments or places was not possible on account of the time-constraints and that several of the spouses are flying back home with their husbands on Friday itself since Thursday is the main day of the ongoing Indo-Africa Forum Summit.

The website of the awe-inspiring Akshardham Temple says it is “is a humble tribute to Bhagwan Swaminarayan ...” (founder of the Swaminarayan sect) and also incarnations, Gods and great sages of Hinduism. The Akshardham Temple is seen as an architectural marvel comprising the finest traditions of ancient Indian sculpture. The Swaminarayan sect initially grew strong roots in Gujarat — PM Modi’s home state — but now commands the following of lakhs of devotees in other parts of India and abroad.

The first ladies of Angola, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar and Mauritius will be given unique Indian experience.