JOIN USResidents of Muddapur, a remote village in Gubbi taluk, accorded a warm welcome to German President Joachim Gauck on Saturday.The village with just 50 families was decked up for the occasion.
The German President had a first taste of rural India when he had a glimpse of Shivamma and Manjula milking a cow. He then watched Kalleshi, a local, de-husking coconuts with his hands. Kalleshi was mighty pleased after the president shook hands with him.
‘On world map’
“Our politicians used to visit the village only during elections. Post elections, no one has visited us. We are happy that the German President’s visit has put our village on the world map,” says a beaming M Siddaramesh, a member of the gram panchayat.
Gauck told the villagers, “During my India tour, I have visited New Delhi and Bangalore. But I will cherish my visit to Muddapur more. I am very happy to have come to this serene and peaceful village.”
The President also enquired villagers about coir crafts, education, among other things. He shook hands with the schoolchildren and women at the village. Earlier, Gauck visited coir crafts cooperative society at Tyagtur village, one of the prominent centres in Gubbi coir cluster. The President, along with his entourage, watched the activities of the society and had copra.
The Tumkur district administration had banned the media from covering the German Presidents’s visit citing security and protocol.