, referred to India's Mahatma Gandhi due to the fact “the guiding light of one's approach to nonviolent personal change” (Files 5:231). After the popularity of the new boycott inside 1956, Queen considered planing a trip to Asia to help you deepen his knowledge of Gandhian standards. To King, “India 's the belongings where in actuality the process off nonviolent personal alter was install one my personal individuals have used in Montgomery, Alabama and you can someplace else regarding the Western Southern area” (News conference ).

That same 12 months, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's prime minister, made an initial stop by at the united states. Regardless of if not able to meet with Queen, Nehru inquired as a result of diplomatic agents regarding the probability of King travelling in order to Asia afterwards. King's almost every other personal debt intervened together with schedule each time he created traveling: visiting Ghana, doing the newest memoir Stride On Liberty, and dealing with Izola Ware Curry's assault in the Harlem. As he slower recovered out of this last near-deadly encounter, Queen felt like it absolutely was opportune to maneuver send together with his Asia plans.

Queen secured loans to own their visit to Asia in the Christopher Reynolds Base, the newest Montgomery Improvement Relationship, the fresh Southern Christian Leaders Meeting, and you may Dexter Method Baptist Chapel.