President Bill Clinton with our children

April 4 was a special day for most of the quake ravaged people of Bhuj and Anjar, when former President Bill Clinton visited Gujarat.

Braving the intense heat at high noon, crowds thronged to catch a glimpse of one of the world’s most famous personalities at Khatri Chowk in Anjar, where nearly 300 children perished within moments of the quake during the Republic Day parade. On his arrival, the President walked down the ill-fated street and honoured the memory of

those children. Impact's representatives were present with a special gift for the President made by school children of Mumbai... a hand-made quilt. The patchwork quilt, bright and a vibrant red was the cynosure of all eyes, including the press, as it focused on the hand-painted messages of praise and gratitude to the President for his concern and involvement towards the quake-affected people of Gujarat.

Waiting for almost three hours in the unrelenting heat we were near dehydration , when we asked the Gujarat policeman how he was tolerating the heat. We were humbled by what he said, " If we (the people of Gujarat) have survived the killer earthquake, we can survive this heat too!.....” 

Just then we heard a loud roar and cheering, we knew then, that He had finally arrived!
Casually dressed and face flushed red with the heat, we waited for the opportunity to present the quilt and details of Impact's activities.

President Bill Clinton salutes Impact India's work