Scenes from Modi's US visits
Prime Minister Narendra Modi impressed almost everyone he met during his five visits to the United States between 1990 and 2000 as a leader of the BJP and the RSS. At a function at The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in August 1996, Chandan Banerjee, 46, then a student at MIT introduced Modi as "India's future Prime Minister''. As Modi flies to the US today on a historic visit, his brother Kanchan Banerjee, 53, an IT professional based in Boston and editor of a magazine New Global Indian, looks back on the visits.
The picture shows Modi (right) in shirt and trouser with Chandan Banerjee in Boston during one of his trips in 1990s.
#1. The "future Prime Minister" at MIT
While introducing Modi as one of the guest speakers at the Indian Students Freedom Festival Programme at MIT in August 1997, Chandan Banerjee, then a student at MIT and now a Kolkata businessman, said the prophetic words: "Mr Modi might not be so well known now but mark my words, he is the future Prime Minister of India." Then MIT president Charles M Vest was also in attendance.
#2. The ocean in Boston
Modi loves the ocean. In 1995, when in Boston, Modi was fond of strolling on Revere Beach. When Kanchan Banerjee asked him why, Modi replied: "The openness of the ocean and the sky above expands your internal horizons."
#3. The space in NASA
His visit to NASA in Houston in 1996 left a lasting impression on Kamlesh Lulla, now a chief scientist, who took him around the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL). Banerjee says Lulla told him recently that he had rarely seen such a scientific mind and such sharp questions.
#4. Always tech-savvy
On his 1993 trip Modi's admirers, including Kanchan Banerjee, pooled money to buy him the latest computer. Says Kanchan Banerjee, "Even we who had lived in US for years were not so tech-savvy."
#5. Vivekananda at Georgia State University
After his speech on Swami Vivekananda to a group of Indian and American students at Georgia State University at Atlanta in 1996, a student asked him, "What is the true relevance of Swamiji today?" To this, Modi replied: "Swamiji's mission was to introduce Indian philosophy to the West and bring the message of science and technology to bring prosperity to India."
#6. The sporting spirit
When someone asked him in Boston in a function during his 1995 US visit why Indians were poor in sport, he cited lack of nutritional food and proper training as the reasons. He suggested that corporate houses like Tatas, Birlas and Reliance could sponsor sport--something that is happening now.
#7. Modi and Sushma-ben
During his 1996 trip when Banerjee's wife Hemanti offered rosogulla to Modi, he refused, saying he had taken a vow. He would eat sweets only if offered by Sushma Swaraj.
#8. No problem with English
According to Banerjee, Modi delivered all his speeches in his halting but perfectly comprehensible English during his US trips in the 1990s. "It was English of a working nature but quite easy to understand for both Indian and Americans," says Banerjee. It's a language he has tended to steer clear of after becoming prime minister.