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Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File pic/AP
Irshad Hussain Naikoo, a farm labourer from Anantnag in Kashmir, still cherishes the memory of the day his gift was worn by the Prime Minister who is visiting J&K on Thursday
On his recent Odisha visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested a tailor to sew a kurta for him. With his visit to Kashmir slated for Thursday, here’s a heartwarming story about the pheran worn by the Prime Minister during a previous trip, which was gifted by a Kashmiri farmer.
Irshad Hussain Naikoo, a farm labourer from Anantnag, Kashmir, had dreamed of meeting Narendra Modi since 2013. Despite his financial hardships, his admiration for Narendra Modi was so deep that he began saving money to buy a gift for him.
After a few years of saving, he thought of different things which he could present to PM Modi. Finally, he decided to make the traditional dress, pheran, for the Prime Minister.
He carefully selected the fabric, but faced a dilemma — he didn’t know PM Modi’s measurements. He had no idea what size the Prime Minister wore. Then it occurred to him that his father’s build was quite similar to the Prime Minister’s. So, he took his father to the tailor for measurements and explained exactly how he wanted it made.
Once the outfit was ready, he began his journey from Anantnag to Delhi to deliver it. And he reached the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence. The security arrangements were such that he couldn’t go in. So he decided to return to Kashmir and send it by courier.
A few days later, he received an unexpected call. The person on the phone asked, “You came to the Prime Minister’s residence, right?” Irshad had sent the gift, enclosing a letter with his full address and phone number. The call was from the Prime Minister’s Office.
After enquiring about his details, the official from the Prime Minister’s Office informed him, “The Prime Minister is wearing today the gift that you sent him. He’s currently in Kashmir and addressing a rally in Srinagar wearing the pheran gifted by you.’
Irshad was in his fields when he received the call and could hardly believe it. The Prime Minister was wearing the gift he had sent. Overjoyed, he went home and asked a friend to check the event online. To his delight, he saw that the person he admired most had indeed worn the pheran.
Irshad still cherishes the memory of the day his gift was worn by the Prime Minister.