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Time of India
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
‘Trip of a lifetime': Usha Vance's India visit turns into a family affair, says her kids were enchanted
"Trip of a lifetime, meeting PM Modi was very special": US Second Lady Usha Vance recalls India visit and her children's experience In a captivating account at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC, US Second Lady Usha Vance recounted the unforgettable details of her family's April visit to India, a journey filled with wonder, personal connection, and vibrant cultural experiences. A first-time journey filled with discovery Usha Vance described the trip as 'the trip of a lifetime' for her children, who had never set foot in India before. 'They'd grown up hearing the stories about our family, the food, and the rich traditions, but to finally see it all in person was simply mind-blowing,' she recalled during a fireside chat at the eighth edition of the USISPF Leadership Summit. From savoring authentic Indian cuisine to marveling at iconic landmarks, every moment of the journey added a new layer to their understanding of the country's heritage. A heartwarming encounter with Prime Minister Modi One of the most memorable highlights of the trip was meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi , an encounter that forged a remarkably personal connection. The Vance children, still sleep-deprived from earlier travels in Paris, instantly took a liking to Modi when they saw 'an Indian man with a white beard and white hair,' as Usha described. 'From the moment we met him, our kids embraced him as their 'grandfather' figure,' she said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Their adoration was further cemented when, during a prior encounter in Paris, PM Modi presented a birthday gift to their five-year-old son. Later, at his residence in New Delhi, the children's affection overflowed; they ran up to him and hugged him, a gesture that spoke volumes about his kindness and generosity. Usha emphasized that the productive conversations between Prime Minister Modi and her husband, Vice President JD Vance, not only reinforced diplomatic ties but also deepened personal bonds, something that she believes will bolster the future of US-India relations. Cultural extravaganza: Exploring India's heritage The visit was more than just political or diplomatic; it was a deep cultural immersion. The Vance family explored some of North India's most treasured sites: Iconic landmarks: The family marveled at the Taj Mahal in Agra early in the morning, basking in the soft glow of dawn against cool, blue skies. They also toured Amber Fort in Jaipur and the awe-inspiring Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi. Local experiences: Usha recounted the thrill of riding in an auto-rickshaw, a particular highlight for her daughter, Mirabel. The Secret Service even allowed a brief enclosed drive, adding to the excitement for the little one. Puppet shows and craftsmanship: Attending a puppet show featuring segments from the Ramayana and comedic animal performances was a standout experience. The performance, which boasted puppeteering talents from across the country, including Andhra Pradesh (Usha's ancestral home), left her children so inspired that they've been trying to recreate similar shows using construction paper. Moments of childlike wonder Beyond the historical and political significance of the trip, it was the small, personal moments that resonated most deeply with the Vance children. Ewan, the eldest, was captivated by the intricate temple sculptures, describing them as a revelation of ancient craftsmanship that he had only previously encountered through stories. Vivek, the middle child, found joy in every interaction with India's wildlife, from elephants and peacocks to the charming camel encounters. Perhaps the most humorous moment came when a cart full of mangoes caught their son's eye; so enchanted was he by the treat, he jokingly told Prime Minister Modi that he might just live there, planning his future among the fruit-laden displays. Strengthening the US-India bond For Usha Vance, the significance of the visit extended well beyond sightseeing. With deep personal roots bridging India and the United States, she sees the relationship between the two nations as both political and profoundly personal. 'I have family in India, and I grew up with visits that forged lasting bonds,' she explained. 'This isn't just about diplomacy, it's about families, memories, and mutual respect. ' Her reflections at the forum reiterated the potential for future cooperation, especially as both nations navigate challenges and opportunities on the global stage. With the upcoming Global Leadership Awards at the summit highlighting key figures from the QUAD nations, the event underscored that strong bilateral relationships are built not only on economic and strategic ties but also on deeply human connections. A lasting legacy of warmth and connection As the Vance family's stories continue to inspire, Usha Vance's heartfelt narrative serves as a testament to the power of cultural exchange and personal diplomacy. With memories of warm embraces, captivating landmarks, and little adventures like auto-rickshaw rides and mango indulgences, the trip stands as a lasting reminder that the strongest ties often begin with a shared smile and an open heart. For the Vances and for many who cherish the bridge between the United States and India, this journey will be remembered as a pivotal moment, one that transformed political visits into personal stories of connection and wonder.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
India-US ties ‘very personal', time of great opportunity for both countries: Usha Vance
Calling her relationship with India 'very personal', US Second Lady Usha Vance said that in broader terms, it is a time of great opportunity for the bilateral ties between the United States and India, something her husband, Vice-President J D Vance, also believes in. At a fireside chat on the sidelines of the USISPF Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, Monday evening, Vance also recalled their recent trip to India, and how it was special for their three children, who struck a rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, putting him 'in the grandfather category'. 'It is a very personal relationship because I have family members who are in India, and I have many family members who are in the US. And I did grow up visiting India and visiting those family members, and they grew up visiting me. So that's always been a relationship that I've personally thought of as very important,' she said, during an interaction with USISPF Chairman John Chambers. 'More broadly, this is a time of great opportunity. And if my husband were here, he'd say the same thing,' she remarked. 'Obviously, the relationship has ebbed and flowed at times. There are times when one country's needs and one country's goals are different from the other. But in the next four years, and in the future, the fact that there is this established Indian-American population here and so many people in India who know the country and know the people who are here doing great things, having great opportunities, these personal ties actually have something to do with it,' she added. 'We followed radically different paths… converged' Born in San Diego to Indian-born Telugu-speaking professors, her father, Krish Chilukuri, is an aerospace engineer from IIT-Madras, while her mother, Lakshmi, is a marine biologist and now provost at one of the colleges in UC San Diego. The family moved to the US in the 1980s. Talking about her recent visit to India as the US' Second Lady, along with her husband and kids, she said, 'When we were visiting recently, I was struck by the number of people who came up to me to say how much they loved our country, how they visited family, how they visited just for pleasure, that they were hoping for a close relationship looking forward.' She said her parents moved to San Diego to pursue higher education. 'That's sort of what happened, as I think it does for a lot of Indian Americans. They come, they find a community and an educational institution, and they find a real home in those places,' she said, about her growing-up years. 'I grew up in a pretty Asian-American community, but we had a lot of family friends who were Indian-Americans. We had friends from all over as well, and everyone was really invested in being a part of this country, and pursuing the American dream for themselves and their kids,' she said. However, later, as she went to Yale, she said her 'life veered towards the East Coast, and I married someone who's from the eastern half of the country'. The couple met at Yale Law School, she said. 'We had followed radically different paths in life and converged in the same place. JD, of course, had grown up in Ohio. He had been in the Marine Corps as an enlisted Marine. And I had taken the diligent, progressive path of high school to college to graduate school and some jobs and to law school. And we have these really different backgrounds, but the reality is that we had so much in common,' she added. 'They are very into' PM Modi Coming back to her India trip, Usha Vance called it 'the trip of a lifetime'. 'My children had never been to India, with the pandemic and JD's entry into politics. And so they'd grown up just knowing so much about this country, the stories, the food, the relationships with grandparents and friends. But they had never actually seen it. So it was mind-blowing from their perspective. And then for me and JD, it just could not have been any more special. We had the opportunity to see some of the greatest sights in North India, including the Taj Mahal,' she said. #WATCH | In a conversation at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum in Washington, DC, US Second Lady Usha Vance recalls her visit to India and her children's experience meeting PM Modi. She says, 'When we were at the Prime Minister's residence, our son was just so taken by… — ANI (@ANI) June 2, 2025 '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,' she added. She said meeting PM Modi was really special. 'And it's funny. My kids saw him. They were sort of sleep-deprived in Paris. And they saw an Indian man with a white beard and white hair. And they just put him in the grandfather category immediately. So 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,' she said, recalling their visit to the PM's residence in New Delhi. 'So 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 was a very productive conversation for JD and the Prime Minister, of course. When we were at the Prime Minister's residence, our son was taken by the entire cart of mangoes that was available for him to eat, he announced to the Prime Minister that he thought he could maybe live there,' she recalled on a lighter note. But he dialled that back a little bit as he remembered how hot it had been earlier in the day, she said. While Ewan, their oldest child at 7, was taken by the sculptures in the temple that he visited, Vivek, their middle child, was very excited to meet elephants, peacocks, a camel and just any animal. 'And then our daughter, she's sort of along for the ride. She really enjoyed her time in an auto-rickshaw,' she said. Reading challenge Vance also spoke about her work and priorities as the Second Lady after she recently announced a reading challenge for children. 'I'm conscious that reading scores have dropped over time. And that is something lots of people are working to rectify, and I wanted to do something small to contribute to that,' she said. 'Secondly, we live in a world of distractions now. It's very easy to just pick up your phone all the time. It's pinging you. And that worries me. I do think that one of the things that is very special about being a human is that we have this capacity for sustained thought and reflection, and those produce very beautiful things, like the Taj Mahal that we visited.' Even as literacy will be a big focus of her efforts, the Vances are also starting to get involved in organising the Special Olympics in the US. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
