Thousands of miles away from Washington, where the late Jimmy Carter will be honored with a state funeral next week, a small Indian village named after the former U.S. president is recalling his memorable visit nearly five decades ago.
Carter, a one-term president from 1977 to 1981, passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. A state funeral will take place at the Washington National Cathedral on January 9 to commemorate his life and legacy.
In India, a village called ‘Carterpuri,’ located about 20 miles (32 km) from Delhi, stands as a unique tribute to Carter. The village, originally known as Daulatpur Nasirabad, was renamed in his honor after his visit in January 1978. This hamlet’s connection to the former president stems from his mother, Lillian Carter, who lived and worked there as a nurse and volunteer in the 1960s.
Moti Ram, a resident of the village, fondly recalled the day Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, visited their community. “Villagers dressed his wife in traditional attire. He (Carter) also tried out a hookah,” Moti Ram said, reflecting on the simplicity and warmth of the occasion. The sight of the Carters walking through the village, engaging with the locals, left a lasting impression on the community.
The visit required extensive preparations, with villagers working diligently to ensure everything was perfect. According to some residents who spoke to news agency ANI, efforts began months in advance of Carter’s arrival on January 3, 1978. The village was cleaned and decorated, and welcome ceremonies were held in the main square to greet the American president and his wife.
The visit was so impactful that the villagers decided to rename their community after Carter, cementing his legacy in their lives. The renaming symbolized their admiration and gratitude toward the man who had taken the time to connect with their small, rural community.
News of Carter’s death this week brought an outpouring of tributes in Carterpuri. Locals paid their respects by garlanding a framed picture of him and placing flowers before it. The gesture reflected their enduring affection for the former president, whose visit had become an indelible part of the village’s history.
Eric Garcetti, the U.S. ambassador to India, also acknowledged the unique bond between Carterpuri and Jimmy Carter. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) after Carter’s death, Garcetti highlighted the village as a “testament to the high regard in which he was held here in India.” Accompanying his message was a photograph from the historic visit, showing Rosalynn Carter, dressed in traditional Indian attire, laughing warmly while standing beside her husband amid a crowd of villagers.
Among the village’s cherished treasures is a letter that Carter sent following his visit. In the letter, he expressed gratitude to the residents for their hospitality and the efforts they made to make the occasion “successful and so personally satisfying.” This heartfelt note, along with photographs from the visit, holds a place of pride in the village’s collective memory.
The story of Carterpuri serves as a poignant reminder of the deep personal connections Carter fostered during his lifetime. Even as the world mourns his passing, this small Indian village stands as a living tribute to his legacy, commemorating the warmth and humanity he brought to their lives nearly 50 years ago.