Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has passed away at the age of 100. After entering hospice care in February 2023, Carter spent his final days in his hometown of Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. Leaders from across the political spectrum, including President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, have expressed their condolences, mourning the loss of a statesman whose legacy spanned decades.
While Carter’s contributions to global diplomacy and humanitarian causes are well-documented, his unique connection to India stands out. In 1978, during his presidency, Carter visited India to meet then-Prime Minister Morarji Desai in a bid to strengthen US-India ties. The visit was notable not only for its diplomatic significance but also for Carter’s stop in a small Haryana village called Daulatpur Nasirabad.
This village, renamed Carterpuri in honor of the President, symbolizes the deep ties Carter fostered during his time in office. The renaming was a mark of gratitude for his outreach and the goodwill he brought to the region. Carterpuri’s bond with the former US president traces back even further, as Carter’s mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, had served in the area as a social worker during the 1960s.
Residents of Carterpuri recall Carter’s visit with fondness. A villager, who was 24 at the time of the historic occasion, shared with WION in 2020: “It was a day of festivity in the village when he came. He called on the village panchayat and presented the proposal of renaming the village Carterpuri.”
Carter’s connection to the village extended beyond mere symbolism. He wrote heartfelt letters to the village headman, expressing his appreciation: “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.”