Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, who died Sunday at age 100, shared a unique connection with a village in Haryana that was renamed in his honour following his visit to the country in 1978.
Carter, the longest-lived U.S. president, was the first to visit India after the Janata Party’s victory in 1977 and the end of the Emergency period. On January 3, 1978, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, visited Daulatpur Nasirabad, a village located an hour southwest of New Delhi, according to the Carter Centre.
Carter’s mother, Lillian, had worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in India during the late 1960s, establishing a personal connection between the Carter family and the country.
“The visit was so successful that shortly after, village residents renamed the area ‘Carterpuri’ and remained in contact with the White House for the rest of President Carter’s tenure,” the Carter Centre said.
The bond between Carter and the village continued to flourish, with celebrations in Carterpuri when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. The village also observes January 3 as a local holiday in remembrance of the visit.
Jimmy Carter dies at 100
Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived president in US history, died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia surrounded by his family on Sunday aged 100.
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Joe Biden said in a statement, mourning his loss.
Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Rosalynn and one grandchild.
“Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” President Joe Biden said in a statement, mourning his loss.
Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for Carter on Jan 9. Biden also declared Jan 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the US. He also ordered US flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday.