• Monday, March 10, 2025

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When Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar urged Michelle Obama to return to White House

Former US first lady Michelle Obama (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Albie Awards)

By: Shubham Ghosh

Veteran Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar on Thursday (6) appealed to former US first lady Michelle Obama to return to the White House saying not only America but the entire world needed her there.

The 77-year-old Akhtar responded to a tweet posted by Obama, wife of former US president Barack Obama and a noted activist and humanitarian, in which she announced her ‘The Light We Carry’ tour. ‘The Light We Carry’ is a follow-up to Obama’s critically acclaimed bestselling memoir ‘Becoming’ published in 2018.

Javed Akhtar
(Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

In her tweet, Obama, 58, said, “I’m so excited to go on #TheLightWeCarry Tour with these wonderful people! I’ll be sharing some personal stories and lessons that have helped me along my path, and I can’t wait to tell you more. I hope you’ll join us!”

The tour will go to places such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. It will be moderated in different states by celebrity hosts such as Gayle King, Ellen Degeneres, Conan OBrien, Elizabeth Alexander, among others.

“Dear Ms Michelle Obama , I am not some young crazy fan but a 77 years old writer/ poet from India .hopefully any Indian would know my name . Madame please take my words seriously , not only US but the world needs you in White House . You shouldn’t shrug off this responsibility,” Akhtar said in his tweet.

Obama moved out of the White House in January 2017 after her husband’s second term concluded. She has been the first African-American to become the first lady of the US. There was speculation that she could contest the 2020 presidential election against former president Donald Trump but she declined.

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