India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told Barack Obama in 2014 that the then US President’s car was almost the size of the house his mother lived in. This helped forge a deep bond between the two leaders from humble backgrounds.
Mr Kwatra, a former Foreign Secretary, told ‘Modi Story’, a social media handle that chronicles events related to the Prime Minister, that the heartfelt conversation between the two leaders took place when they were heading together to the Martin Luther King Jr memorial after the formal talks.
He said that as they sat together in Mr Obama’s limousine for the 10-12 minute journey, their conversation turned to family.
In a friendly conversation, Mr Obama asked about Prime Minister Modi’s mother.
A smiling prime minister responded candidly and unexpectedly: “President Obama, you might not believe this, but your car is almost the size of the house my mother lives in,” Kwatra, who was there as a translator, recalled.
The car in which both the leaders were travelling was a stretch limousine.
Mr Kwatra said that the US President was surprised by the statement of Prime Minister Modi.
This candid revelation gave them a glimpse of Modi’s simple upbringing and straightforwardness.
Mr Kwatra said the conversation marked a turning point in the deep ties between the two leaders, as both of them have risen from humble backgrounds to the highest positions in their respective countries.
This was Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to India after becoming Prime Minister the same year.
His mother lived in her old house in Gujarat until her demise in 2022.
Officials highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s ability to engage and build deep relationships with world leaders, including US Presidents, saying he connects with them on a personal level and uses his life experiences to bridge cultural and geopolitical differences.
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi left for a three-day visit to the US to attend the summit of the Quad group and address an important conference at the United Nations.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
