Saturday, May 28 2005 16:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Berne (Switzerland): President A P J Abdul Kalam today (May 28, 2005) described his visit to the house of renowned scientist and Nobel laureate Albert Einstein as a "pilgrimage."

"For me, visiting this house is nothing less than a pilgrimage," Kalam said after visiting the place where Einstein had lived.

Kalam had a look at the suit that the great scientist had worn and also some of the photographs depicting Einstein's life and his work that have been kept in the house.

The President climbed a very narrow staircase, which led to the first floor where Einstein used to work on his famous 'Theory of Relativity'.

Kalam admired the things kept on the first floor and took a keen interest in them.

Einstein has been a central figure of President Kalam's speeches at various fora during his State visit to Switzerland.

Kalam had also been quoting Einstein's words about Mahatma Gandhi, "Generations to come will scarcely believe that such one as this (Gandhiji) ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth".

The President was accompanied by Minister for Overseas Indians, Jagdish Tytler and Member of Parliament Milind Deora, the youngest member of the high-level Presidential delegation.

The house was famous for Einstein's six scientific works published in the 'Annals of Physics'. These works are the basis of new conception of the world.