00:00Our commitment to human rights must be absolute.
00:06Our laws, fair, our natural beauty, preserved.
00:12The powerful must not persecute the weak.
00:16And human dignity must be enhanced.
00:30It's a story of history, heart and an unlikely connection.
00:37Katerpuri, a small village in Haryana, stands as a living memory of Jimmy Kater,
00:43the 39th President of the United States.
00:46Today, as the world mourns his passing at the age of 100,
00:50we revisit how a moment in 1978 changed the destiny of this village forever.
01:00Back in 1978, these roads were cleaned, the entire village was spruced up,
01:13and an air of excitement filled the atmosphere
01:16as everyone awaited the arrival of the President of the United States.
01:21The cleanliness was excellent.
01:29And we heard that Jimmy Kater also ate halwa-puri here.
01:34Yes, he must have eaten it.
01:38So what were you doing that day?
01:40We were just sitting, looking around.
01:44So what did you see in the village? A lot of security, a lot of...
01:49He roamed all the roads.
01:52He cleaned up all the garbage.
01:58So he made the entire village shine.
02:00Yes.
02:01And where did he roam in the village? What did Jimmy Kater say about the village?
02:04He roamed all over the village.
02:06And what did he say about the village?
02:08About the village, he said that he would make the village a model.
02:13So did he become a model or not?
02:14No, he didn't become a model.
02:16What was lacking?
02:18What was lacking? The government should know about it.
02:21Then who will tell us?
02:23But the atmosphere was good.
02:26A lot of people came outside.
02:31It was like a great fair.
02:35At that time, it must have been the same fair.
02:38It was the same fair.
02:39Dance, jump, play.
02:41So a lot of foreigners also came?
02:43Yes.
02:44What did you do?
02:46What did you do?
02:47Play, jump, see.
03:16From the very kitchen where Rosaline Kater, the first lady, once cooked during their visit.
03:23This humble act left a lasting impression on the villagers,
03:27symbolizing a connection that transcended cultures and borders.
03:36When Kater came here in 1978,
03:39this place exactly was a biogas plant that he inaugurated.
03:45It was for the first time that on January 3, 1978,
03:48they inaugurated the biogas plant.
03:51And there was a pipe going around from here inside to the opposite side,
03:56the other house that I'm showing.
03:58So in this house, Rosaline Kater, wife of President Jimmy Kater,
04:04she cooked chapati, roti, in this house when she came in 1978.
04:10I'll show you how the house looks now.
04:12Of course, it's very different than what it was earlier.
04:15And the people who are living here, they are living on rent over here,
04:20but they're not even aware that the President's wife was here,
04:24and she cooked exactly at the right spot where they are sitting.
04:29And she cooked chapati for the village.
04:31And it was a historic moment when we met people.
04:34They're describing how the environment was here
04:37when it was like a big fair for the entire village.
04:41However, why they made this village Katapuri,
04:46there was a different reason.
04:48The President had adopted this village,
04:51and they wanted to make it like one of the American villages.
04:54However, that dream hasn't come true.
04:57But the people who live here,
04:59they, of course, are making good money with the village land
05:03because most of the properties here,
05:06they are being developed for renting people
05:09like one of the families that you see right behind me.
05:15We then met a passionate admirer of Jimmy Carter in Katapuri,
05:19a proud villager who has been writing letters to him for years.
05:24Her unwavering admiration reflects the deep bond
05:28the village shares with the former U.S. President.
05:32We have heard of stories of him,
05:35but along with that, I am associated with Carter Center.
05:40And in last October only, I have sent a letter to him personally.
05:45Actually, I sent it through a friend of mine.
05:47He is there in U.S.
05:50So what was there in the letter? What did you write to him?
05:53I wrote that I am a daughter of village Katapuri
05:57and how entire Katapuri misses him.
06:00And actually, there was an exchange of letter from the White House
06:04when he was there in White House.
06:06There was an exchange of letter, but later it stopped.
06:09We have all those letters of Mr. Carter.
06:13And even Ms. Rosalyn Carter,
06:16she also used to write letter to Katapuri to take care.
06:20While he was the president, after his visit,
06:23when he came to know that the village is renamed on his name,
06:27they even offered to the Indian government
06:31that we want to adopt this village.
06:33But due to certain circumstances,
06:35this offer was declined by the government.
06:38I tried to connect him through a letter.
06:41And I have even sent email.
06:45But I get to know that they don't, Carter Center,
06:48don't reply to emails.
06:51And therefore, later I sent a letter to him.
06:54Proper letter.
06:56Yeah, proper letter.
06:57I wrote how entire Katapuri misses him
07:00and what all things we remember about it.
07:04And I even offered him that not like taking into account his physical condition.
07:11I even offered him that if we could chat through a video call
07:15or if he could just write back,
07:18so it would be a joyous moment for the entire Katapuri.
07:23In a world often divided,
07:25Katapuri reminds us of the power of connection
07:29and the lasting impact of simple gestures.
07:33As we bid farewell to Jimmy Carter,
07:36this village honors his legacy not just as a leader,
07:40but as a friend.
07:42With camera person Kausar Alam, Nageen Singh for One India.
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