Modi in Africa: PM visits Gandhi's home and plants a sapling at Phoenix Settlement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Durban late on Friday night from Johannesburg. Saturday was his second day in South Africa and the third in the continent. The Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of External Affairs took to Twitter to keep the public informed about his various visits and other engagements that were part of his itinerary in Durban. The tweets started flowing in after he reached the Pentrich Railway Station. From there, he took a train to Pietermaritzburg, to pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi who was offloaded from the train because of his skin colour in 1893.

PM travels from Pentrich Railway Station to Pietermaritzburg. Train resembles the one on which Gandhi ji travelled. pic.twitter.com/VAFOn1K4ev

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 9, 2016

A picture of the Prime Minister during his journey to Pietermaritzburg. pic.twitter.com/Lum5PJwDpv

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 9, 2016

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The PM spoke to the media on his arrival at the station, after which he visited the spot where Gandhi was offloaded.

PM takes a moment to speak to the media on his thoughts on arrival at Pietermaritzburg station pic.twitter.com/g5y8KXZAvH

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

The making of the Mahatma. PM @narendramodi visits the spot where Gandhiji was offloaded at Pietermaritzburg pic.twitter.com/uxK6hDoapy

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

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Modi also inaugurated an exhibition at the Waiting Hall in Pietermaritzburg.

A permanent memory in Pietermaritzburg. PM inaugurates exhibition at the Waiting Hall where Gandhiji spent the night pic.twitter.com/7Ze3RVBwYx

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

An event at Pietermaritzburg altered the course of India's history, PM writes in the Visitors book at the station pic.twitter.com/iyShCcYnZy

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

Modi’s next visit was to Gandhi’s Phoenix Settlement, where Mahatma Gandhi spent the initial years of his political profession.

From Pietermaritzburg to Phoenix. PM visits the farm where Gandhiji spent formative years of his political work pic.twitter.com/fq8uYDJRE4

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

A house for justice, a home for compassion. PM @narendramodi visits Sarvodaya, Gandhiji's residence in Phoenix pic.twitter.com/RI3X7zp8t6

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

He further planted a sapling and interacted with the people there.

A sapling for sarvodaya. PM @narendramodi plants a pepper & bark tree at the Phoenix Settlement. Ela Gandhi with him pic.twitter.com/svfJ5kNNr2

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

          Planting a sapling at Phoenix Settlement. pic.twitter.com/kQdzIlGHQ1 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 9, 2016

PM @narendramodi interacts with people at Phoenix Settlement. pic.twitter.com/88G8PmtWnn

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 9, 2016

Co-partners in the knowledge revolution. PM interacts with a group of South African Alumni of Indian institutions pic.twitter.com/5bFLrcWdex

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

Final engagement of the day in South Africa is a special reception in PM's Honour by the Mayor of Durban pic.twitter.com/EzSfl8U4pS

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

PM @narendramodi applauds the extraordinary diversity of Durban, says by protecting it you help advance Mandela's dream of a Rainbow Nation

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

PM: Today, you have not just honoured me. You have also recognised 1.25 billion of my countrymen. pic.twitter.com/zEoGjPemXc

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

PM @narendramodi:The sufferings of early generations of Indians under the apartheid and colonial rule are well known pic.twitter.com/DBNbDlS6Hx

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

PM turns to cricket:Being in S Africa, & especially in Durban, If I don’t talk about cricket it would be a no ball! pic.twitter.com/dCEaMwR29E

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

PM: The passion and love for this game runs wide and deep in our societies.
And, cricket has been an important part of our relations

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016

PM concludes: While our challenges in the twenty first century may have changed, are develop'l concerns are common pic.twitter.com/mrkHl21eoI

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) July 9, 2016