Washington, USA: A small village, located about 20 miles (32 km) from Delhi, has renamed itself 'Carterpuri' as a tribute to the late former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who visited the area nearly 50 years ago. The village, formerly known as Daulatpur Nasirabad, was home to Carter's mother, Lillian, who lived and worked there as a nurse and volunteer in the 1960s.

Although thousands of miles away from Washington, where Carter’s state funeral is scheduled for January 9, 2024, the villagers of Carterpuri fondly remember his visit in 1978 and continue to honor his memory. The one-term president, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, will be given a state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.

During the Carters’ visit on January 3, 1978, Lillian Carter’s son, accompanied by his wife, Rosalynn, was warmly welcomed by the villagers. Moti Ram, a local resident, recalled that the villagers had dressed Rosalynn in traditional attire and that President Carter had even tried smoking a hookah during his visit.

In preparation for their arrival, the village had been spruced up, and special events were held in the main square to welcome the Carters. So touched were the villagers by the visit that they decided to rename their village in his honor.

Following the news of Carter's passing, the villagers paid their respects by placing garlands around a framed photograph of him and offering flowers. U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) after Carter's death, mentioning the village and describing it as a symbol of the high esteem in which Carter was held in India.

In the post, Garcetti shared a photo from the visit, showing Rosalynn laughing in traditional dress with Carter standing beside her, surrounded by the villagers. One of the village’s most treasured possessions is a letter from Carter, in which he expressed his gratitude for the villagers' hospitality and efforts in making his visit "personally satisfying."