Non-inclusion of a trip to the Taj Mahal in his itinerary for his upcoming visit to India has left US President George W Bush disappointed but he says he would like to come back to see one of the most magnificent sites of the world.
Look what President Bush will do in India
Expressing sincere regrets over not being able to visit the Taj, Bush said that while he had not broken a promise to First Lady Laura Bush, he may have to come back to India, 'hopefully on invitation,' to visit the world famous monument.
"I am disappointed with that (not visiting Taj). People who have seen the Taj Mahal say that pictures do not do justice. It is one of the most magnificent sites of the world," the US President said in an interaction with two Indian journalists in Washington.
In a lighter vein, Bush blamed the miss on the scheduler. "And look, if I were the scheduler, perhaps I will be doing things differently," he said.
Asked if he could be in trouble with Laura over not visiting the Taj, he said, "Yes. Well, she is certainly the star of the family. She is really looking forward to going with me."
On what he will choose between cricket and a Bollywood movie, Bush said he was more a 'cricket match person.'
"I appreciate it. As I understand it, I may have a little chance to learn something about cricket. It is a great pastime," he said amidst laughter in the room.
Towards the end of the interaction in Roosevelt Room, when Bush was asked about his earliest memory of India and Indians, his prompt reply was Gandhi.
"Gandhi. It is my first memory as I think about India. A person who was so spiritual that he captured the imagination of the entire world. He is proof that throughout history there have been individuals that have had the capacity to shape thought and influence and beyond border. And he did that," he said.
Asked if he had watched the acclaimed movie Gandhi, Bush replied, "I watched that too. But my memory (of Mahatma Gandhi) was earlier than that."