Carterpuri: A village named after Jimmy Carter faces neglect

On a busy Monday morning, a group of elders in Carterpuri gathered at the community hall, reminiscing about their village's connection with late US President Jimmy Carter. Carter’s recent demise has once again brought media attention to this village, known for hosting him in 1978.

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Originally called Daulatpur Nasirabad, the village was renamed Carterpuri after Carter’s visit to symbolise its importance and ties with the US. However, decades later, the village struggles with poor sanitation and crumbling infrastructure.

“They renamed the village to gain government attention, but we’ve been forgotten,” lamented Ramesh Yadav, a former sarpanch. “Now, we’re just another Bandhwari in the making, with a garbage dump leaking leachate next to our gaushala. Sewers overflow, roads are broken and our complaints to the authorities even on Carter’s death, go unanswered.”

Carterpuri serves as a secondary waste collection point, or khatta, which residents claim is contaminating drinking water. Despite repeated pleas, authorities remain indifferent to the villagers’ plight.

In 1978, Jimmy Carter became the third US President to visit India, meeting Prime Minister Morarji Desai to strengthen US-India ties. During his visit, Carter also stopped at Daulatpur Nasirabad, which was later renamed in his honour. Carter’s ties with the village were personal, as his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, served there as a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1960s.

“Compared to other villages in Haryana, our name is unique,” said Surajbhan, who was 18 during Carter’s visit. “It was a historic day. Roads were repaired, places were painted and we saw a foreigner for the first time. Women gathered to see the ‘gori mem.’ Carter even sent a letter thanking the panchayat.”

The village celebrated Carter’s Nobel Peace Prize win in 2002 and observes January 3 as a local holiday to honour his visit. Yet, the residents feel abandoned, with their historic connection overshadowed by neglect and mounting sanitation issues.