PM Modi Kuwait visit: Prime Minister meets 101-year-old ex-IFS officer after request by his granddaughter on social media

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Kuwait, had a heartfelt meeting with 101-year-old Mangal Sain Handa, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer. The interaction was made possible following a social media appeal by Handa’s granddaughter.

PM Modi’s Kuwait visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in 43 years, was on the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Upon landing in Kuwait on Saturday, PM Modi interacted with the Indian community.

Upon his arrival, PM Modi visited a hotel where he graciously met Mangal Sain Handa. The meeting was arranged following a request on X (formerly Twitter) by Handa’s granddaughter, Shreya Juneja, who described her grandfather as a “great admirer” of the Prime Minister.

“Humble request to Hon’ble PM @narendramodi to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tomorrow’s interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana @MangalSainHanda is a great admirer of yours. Details have been emailed to your office,” Shreya posted on X.

PM Modi was quick to say yes to the meeting. “Absolutely! I look forward to meeting @MangalSainHanda Ji in Kuwait today,” he wrote back.

Getting a response from the Prime Minister on her X post, Shruti said that PM has won their hearts “once again” and her grandfather is overjoyed.

“It’s an honour to receive a response from you, sir! You’ve won our hearts once again. Nanaji @MangalSainHanda is overjoyed, and his smile means the world to us. We’re deeply grateful for this kind gesture,” she posted.

Notably, PM Modi had wished Mangal Sain Handa on his 100th birthday in a personal letter and praised his contributions to India’s diplomatic efforts.

Handa then took to X and thanked the Prime Minister for his gesture, stating, “My heartfelt gratitude to our hon’ble @PMOIndia @narendramodi for sending his kind wishes on my 100th birthday. It has been worth living for 100 years to witness India grow under his leadership”.

PM Modi’s engagements in Kuwait include a visit to an Indian labour camp, interaction with the Indian community and gracing the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup football tournament.

The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.