Modi, mangoes and puppets: Usha Vance on her children's first India experience
Usha Vance, Second Lady of the United States, shared a heartfelt reflexion on her family's visit to India, fondly recounting her children's delightful encounter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, D.C., Usha Vance described how the journey impacted her family -- especially her children, who were visiting their ancestral homeland for the first time.advertisement'When we were at the Prime Minister's residence, our son was just so taken by everything and then taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat that he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there,' she said, drawing laughs from the audience. 'Our children talk about it all the time. They've been all over the place and had wonderful opportunities to see the world, but this was really special to them.'
Vance emphasised that the meeting with PM Modi wasn't just diplomatic -- it was deeply personal. 'I think it was a very productive conversation for JD and the Prime Minister, of course. But also, I think it was a real opportunity for us to kind of cement that personal relationship that they have, which I think is only to the good.'advertisementOne standout moment for the children was a traditional puppet show featuring acts from across India. 'There was a puppet show that was a particular highlight, with sort of puppeteering from all over the country, including from Andhra Pradesh, where my family is from,' she said. 'There were bits from the Ramayana, there were comedic bits with animals, and it was a huge hit. My kids have been trying to recreate it at home with construction paper.'Usha Vance also shared a tender moment when her children, jet-lagged after travelling through Europe, first laid eyes on the Indian Prime Minister. 'They saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair, and they just put him in the grandfather category immediately,' she said with a smile. 'They are very into him; they just love him, and he really cemented his status by giving our five-year-old a birthday present that day. When we were able to visit his home, they just sort of ran up. They were hugging him. He was just incredibly kind and generous to them.''It really was the trip of a lifetime for us,' said Vance. 'My children had never been to India. They'd grown up just knowing so much about this country -- the stories, the food, and the relationships with grandparents and friends -- but they had never actually seen it, so it was just sort of mind-blown from their perspective.'She concluded by hinting at future plans to explore more of India, especially the southern regions where her family hails from. 'For JD and me, it just could not have been any more special. We had the opportunity to see some of the greatest sites in North India. Well, we're looking forward to our next trip and trying to get to the parts of the country where my family is from as well.'Must Watch
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Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
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33 minutes ago
- Indian Express
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India.com
an hour ago
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