Last day in Lucknow

Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Today was our last day in Lucknow. We left the hotel and had our farewell lunch at Tata Motors guest house. Bob, one of the resource teachers at the conference, was also there. He is still in India because he is writing a book to be published by Sunita Gandhi.
This afternoon, on the way to the airport, we stopped to see Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal. It is a marvelous park completely covered by marble and was built by Mayawati who is the Chief Minister  of Uttar Pradesh, India.  She is now India's richest Chief Minister. The rise in her personal wealth and that of her party is described by critics as indicators of corruption. Acts such as pulling down a stadium to build a monument to leaders of her party, including herself, are seen as whimsical and arbitrary. Mayawati erected number of statues of Buddhist and Dalit icons, she claims that the expenditure on statues and symbols of Dalit icons was required because the past governments did not show respect towards them.
 
That night we said goodbye to our generous and unforgettable host Lakshmi and flew to Delhi where Mikko, who had arrived earlier, was waiting for us.
We had a short night tour of Delhi just to see the Indian Gate. We spend the night at Clark Hights, our hotel in the Capital of India.