In the meantime, on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned a warm letter to Neeraj Chopra’s mother, Saroj Devi, the mother of the javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medalist. The PM was thanking her ahead of the Navratri festival for the ‘churma’ she sent him.
In a courteous beginning, he wished her “healthy, safe and happy”. The PM said that tasting of her ‘churma’ reminded him of his mother. “Respectful greetings! I hope you are healthy, safe, and happy. Yesterday, at the banquet held on the occasion of the Jamaican Prime Minister’s visit to India, I had the opportunity to meet brother Neeraj. My joy increased during our discussions when he gave me the delicious churma made by you,” he wrote. “After having this churma today, I could not help but sit down and pen this to you. Brother Neeraj always talks to me about this churma, but today after having it, I felt a bit emotional. It reminded me of my mother because this gift was full of your love and warmth.”
PM Modi said that the time also had an added value because it coincided with Navratri, a sacred period in Hindu culture of devotion. “For the remaining 9 days of Navratri, I don’t eat. In a way, your churma has become my main sustenance before my fast. Just as the food you prepare gives brother Neeraj the energy to win medals for the country, this churma will give me the strength to serve the nation for the next 9 days,” he remarked. He concluded, “On the occasion of the Navratri festival of strength, I assure you and all the mothers across the country that I will continue to work hard with even more dedication towards the realization of the vision of a developed India.”
Earlier, when he was visiting to address India’s athletes before the Paris Olympics, Modi-ji had been joking with Neeraj, “Mera churma abhi tak aaya nahi (I haven’t received my churma yet), that had the audience in the hall in stitches. Pretty much taking him at his word, Saroj Devi promised to prepare a special homemade ‘churma’ for him.
Last month, Neeraj Chopra finished second at the men’s javelin throw event at the Diamond League Final in Brussels, narrowly missing out on the title by just 0.01 meters. Anderson Peters of Grenada won the golden laurel with a jump of an astonishing 87.87 meters while Julian Weber took the third spot with a best throw of 85.97 meters.