“My mother’s house is smaller than your car…” Story of PM Modi and Obama’s meeting ten years ago – My mother’s house is smaller than your car when PM Modi told former US President Obama

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ability to build deep relationships with world leaders, especially the US president, is often discussed. Officials who have accompanied him to international meetings say he connects with global leaders on a personal level, using his life experiences to bridge cultural and geopolitical differences.

Former Foreign Secretary tells story of 2014
On the occasion of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, India’s current ambassador to the United States and former foreign secretary, shared a memorable anecdote from Modi’s first visit to the United States in 2014. He recounted the emotional exchange between Prime Minister Modi and former US President Barack Obama.

Sharing the incident on the website ‘Modi Stories’, which collects experiences and stories of people associated with PM Modi, Quatra said that after the formal talks, PM Modi and President Obama headed to the Martin Luther King memorial. The two leaders sat in Obama’s stretch limousine and during the 10-12 minute journey, their conversation turned to their families.

When Obama asked PM Modi about his mother
During this time, Obama asked PM Modi about his mother. PM Modi smiled and gave a surprisingly natural answer: “President Obama, you may not believe this, but the size of your car is almost the same as my mother’s house.” Obama was surprised to hear this as he was sitting in a huge stretch limousine. This spontaneous conversation gave Obama a glimpse into PM Modi’s simple life and his truth. Vinay Kwatra, who was in the limousine at the time, said the conversation created a deep connection between the two leaders as both came from humble beginnings to hold the highest office in their respective countries.

PM Modi to attend 6th Quad Summit in Delaware
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Modi will attend the 6th Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware, the hometown of US President Joe Biden, on September 21. The Quad includes India, Australia, Japan and the United States. India will host the Quad Leaders’ Summit in 2025. At this summit, Prime Minister Modi will discuss security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. During the visit, Prime Minister Modi will also interact with the Indian diaspora and US business leaders.