"This is the real India," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told British Foreign Secretary David Miliband as they visited Semra, a nondescript Dalit village, expressing his regret that foreign dignitaries often avoid travelling to such places.
Miliband, who spent Wednesday night in Semra in Bhetua block of Amethi district, is currently on a visit to the parliamentary constituency of the All India Congress Committee General Secretary.
The duo got a real taste of rural Indian life -- a thatched house, village fare and a rope cot to sleep on -- during their visit to the village. Miliband and Gandhi returned to their guest house at 5 am.
After a day-long hectic schedule on Wednesday, the two young leaders had interaction with women of the self help groups (SHG). During the interaction process that continued for more than an hour, Gandhi acted as a translator to Miliband.
Gandhi asked the women as to why they introduce their children to English medium. On this, 80-year-old lady replied, 'Ajkal toffee pe bhi English likha hota hai to Hindi padha ke kya hoga? (These days wrappers of toffees are also written in English, so what is the use of being taught in Hindi)'. The English translation led the visiting dignitary burst into laughter.
Gandhi introduced Miliband to the locals as they did not know who the visiting guest was, and asked them to put some questions to the foreign dignitary.
'Kya wo hamari bat samajh sakenge (Can he understand our language),' the villagers queried.
The two leaders had some village food with the rural folk before retiring on a 'charpai' in the house of Shiv Kumari and Karma. The house was a typical village household complete with cows and buffaloes.
The women also sang a folk song in praise of Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust, which according to them have changed their lives, and went on to say, 'Rajiv Gandhi aail yojanava, jamanava badal gayil ye Bahina (Sister! after coming of the Rajiv Gandhi Yojana, the world has changed for us)'.
Miliband had on Wednesday visited a number of villages and seen a literacy programme, dairy development activities and also interacted with the media at Indira Gandhi Eye Hospital before leaving the guest house for the night stay.
Their programme was kept as a closely-guarded secret by local Congress men to avoid media rush which they felt might come in the way of the two leaders freely mingling with villagers.
Text: PTI | Video: ANI
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