The 39th President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100, shared a special relationship with India—one that extended beyond politics. A little Haryana community known as” Carterpuri” was given a new name in his pride after his historic visit to India in 1978.
After the Janata Party’s defeat in 1977 and the Emergency period, Carter was the first American president to travel to India. His target to the Indian Parliament on January 2, 1978, championed democracy and freedom, rejecting dictatorship.
According to Carter,” India’s successes quickly refute the idea that a developing country must accept totalitarian or authoritarian rule to obtain economic and social progress.”
He praised India’s electoral politics, saying,” The largest voter on planet freely and sensibly chose its rulers at the elections. Republic itself was the victor”.
The following morning, Carter and then-Prime Minister Morarji Desai signed the Delhi Declaration, solidifying ties between the two nations. Carter made a point of highlighting the common values of democracy and human rights while speaking at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Both India and the US served as examples of leadership that was based on the need to serve the member, rather than the opposite.
Carter’s relation to India deepened during a visit to the town of Daulatpur Nasirabad, near Delhi. Accompanied by his family, Rosalynn, he was welcomed warmly by people who after renamed their house” Carterpuri”. People of Carter’s community celebrated his Nobel Peace Prize win in 2002 and observed January 3 as a local trip as a result.
This attend was considerable beyond its symbolism. Carter’s family, Lillian Carter, had worked in India as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1960s, making his ties to the country greatly individual. Eventually, the Carter Center noted that the visit forged a lasting relationship between India and the US, one based on mutual respect and aspirations.
Carter’s presidency ( 1977–1981 ) coincided with Cold War tensions, volatile oil markets, and domestic struggles over civil rights and gender equality. His most significant accomplishment was assisting Egypt and Israel in reaching the Camp David Accords in 1978. Despite difficulties like the hostage situation in Iran and economic upheaval, Carter’s post-presidential tradition flourished thanks to charitable work, earning him the Nobel Peace Prize.
