Gurugram: Daulatpur Nashirabad, a remote village in Gurugram, Haryana became the spotlight of Indo-US ties during former US president Jimmy Carter's visit in 1978.
The village, which was christened 'Carterpuri' following the high profile visit, is having renewed hopes of development ahead of the red carpet welcome to US President for the 'Namaste Trump' event in Ahmedabad.
During Jimmy Carter's visit to India, the former US president had a special request- to visit Daulatpur village. The Indian Prime Minister at that time, Morarji Desai, took Carter and the first lady along with a few cabinet ministers.
Ahead of Trump's inaugural visit to India, ETV Bharat takes a tour of Carterpuri, the land of India-US connect.
The village is connected via roads and has a regular supply of water and electricity. The residents, who were young during those times, remember the ordeal put in, to beautify the roads and structures around the village.
Read: 'Namaste Trump' - this time in Ahmedabad
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Kartar Singh took a trip down the memory lane and claimed the renovation works started a month before Carter's arrival.
"There was nothing from the government's side. We came to know about the visit only when the beautification works started. They even whitewashed the cow dung cakes prepared by the villagers," Kartar Singh said.
"When he (Carter) arrived along with his wife Rosalynn Carter, the panchayat extended a warm welcome. The women in our village welcomed them like how we welcome newlyweds. Carter and his wife were offered a Haryanvi dress and they looked very happy," Singh added.
Carter and his love for 'Bajre ki roti'
Carter wanted to visit the village and get to know about the culture and practices of the villagers. According to Kartar Singh, Carter visited a home and enjoyed a lip-smacking pearl millet roti.
"We asked him why did he choose this village and Carter reminded us that his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, had visited and used to stay in the village long back. We consider Carter as one of our own," he said.
President Trump will be paying a state visit to India on 24 and 25 February. Accompanied by his spouse Melania, he would land at Ahmedabad and be treated to a cultural extravaganza the likes of which he has never seen before and may not get to see again.
In sum, India-US relations have transformed beyond imagination, from being estranged democracies to engaged friends. Can this upturn change the fortunes of Carterpuri? It remains to be seen.
