A Legacy in India: Remembering Jimmy Carter
Former US President Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived American president, has passed away at the age of 100. Surrounded by family, he died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife Rosalynn spent most of their lives. The Carter Center announced his passing in a statement, and tributes poured in from leaders including President Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
Among the many lives and places touched by Carter’s legacy, the village of Carterpuri in Haryana, India, stands out. Originally named Daulatpur Nasirabad, the village was renamed in honor of Jimmy Carter after his visit in 1978, during his presidency.
The origins of Carterpuri
Carter became the third US President to visit India when he toured the country in 1978, meeting then-Prime Minister Morarji Desai to strengthen US-India relations. His visit marked a complex time, as Carter advocated for nuclear non-proliferation and encouraged India to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty—a move met with resistance from Indian leaders who viewed it as an infringement on sovereignty.
During his trip, Carter also visited Daulatpur Nasirabad in Haryana, where his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, had worked as a social worker in the 1960s. Touched by the visit, the villagers renamed their home Carterpuri to commemorate the event and the ties Carter helped foster between the nations.
A memorable visit
Carter’s visit to the village was a moment of celebration. A villager, who was 24 at the time, recalled in a 2020 interview with WION, “It was festivity in the village when he came. He called on the village panchayat and presented the proposal of renaming the village Carterpuri.”
Carter later wrote to the village headman, expressing gratitude for the warm welcome:
“I very much appreciated the warm hospitality and friendship which you and all the people of Carterpuri extended to me when I visited your village. It was, without doubt, one of the high points of my entire foreign travel and represented an experience I shall not soon forget.”
Honoring a connection
The renaming of the village symbolizes the enduring ties between the United States and India, strengthened by Carter’s leadership and personal connection. As the village mourns his passing, it also celebrates the bond created decades ago, one that stands as a testament to Jimmy Carter’s legacy of diplomacy and humanity.
Global tributes
While Carterpuri holds a unique connection to the former president, his death has sparked tributes worldwide, highlighting his advocacy for human rights, dedication to peace, and humanitarian efforts that continued long after his presidency.
Jimmy Carter’s life and legacy left an indelible mark, from his home in Plains, Georgia, to a small village in Haryana, forever known as Carterpuri.
