Bill Gates visits Amethi with Rahul Gandhi

With Rahul Gandhi as his guide, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, one of the world's richest men and a noted philanthropist, toured Rae Bareli and Amethi on Tuesday for a closer look at social development in the Gandhi bastions.

Gates and Rahul Gandhi flew in a chartered aircraft from New Delhi and landed at Rae Bareli's Indira Gandhi Flying Academy, located in Fursatganj town. They then drove to Bahadurpur village in Jais town and addressed a meeting of Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna, a self-help group of women.

They later visited the Shahgarh Block Primary School where an eye care and cataract camp has been set up.

Playing every bit a charmed guest amidst soaring temperatures, Gates explained the importance of computer education and promised to try his best to develop Amethi and adjoining Rae Bareli as an IT hub.

More than 100 police personnel were deployed to provide security cover, while Gandhi and Gates also had their own personal guards to maintain the security ring around them. (PTI Image)

"Namaste. Mein Rahul hoon (I am Rahul Gandhi)." This is how the Congress leader introduced himself to an elderly patient in a ward at the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Munshiganj in Amethi. (NDTV Image)

As Rahul, accompanied by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, moved ahead, some old patients nudged each other, pointing out at the young Congress leader as "Rajiv ka beta (Rajiv Gandhi's son)."

The late former Prime Minister had represented Amethi in the Lok Sabha four times and old timers still find it easy to place Rahul as Rajiv Gandhi's son. (PTI Image)

Rahul and Gates addressed a meeting of Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojna, a self-help group of women. Gates explained the importance of computer education and promised to try his best to develop Amethi and adjoining Rae Bareli as an IT hub. (NDTV Image)

After a hectic day, which included long meetings with members of the women self-help groups and visit to hospital and health camps, Gates along with Rahul sneaked out of their guest house in Mushiganj and reached Gurtholia village in Shahgarh block. (NDTV Image)

As the village was sans electricity, small battery operated lamps were used to illuminate the place where Rahul and Gates were to hold the chaupal. (NDTV Image)

The interactive session, which went on for nearly two hours, began with the Congress leader and the Microsoft Chairman taking their "seat" on a mud platform. (NDTV Image)

During the interaction, Gates and Rahul asked the menfolk how they felt as their women counterparts had started saving money through groups.

At times Rahul doubled up as a translator for Gates. (PTI Image)

The two then visited Shahgarh Block Primary School where an eye care and cataract camp has been set up. Gates evinced keen interest in the facilities there and interacted with the patients. They met health workers and found out what problems they are facing in carrying out the job efficiently. (NDTV Image)

Many of the villagers did not know the name of the "gora saheb", but they knew that their guest from abroad was "the richest man" from America. (NDTV Image)

During his hour-long stay in the hospital, Rahul personally asked about the health conditions of the aged patients and found out how their treatment was going on. (NDTV Image)

In January last year, Rahul had spent a night along with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband in a ramshackle hut belonging to Shivkumari Kori, a poor Dalit, at Simara village in Amethi. (PTI Image)