For Gouranga Biswas, a humble boatman from Kolkata, Friday morning turned into an unforgettable chapter of his life when he rowed the boat carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Hooghly River.

Biswas shared his excitement, saying he had never imagined that the country’s Prime Minister would step onto his boat. “I was not aware till the last moment that the Prime Minister would be going for the boat-ride on my boat. He suddenly appeared and just asked my name. I was speechless initially, since I had never imagined such a situation,” Biswas recalled.

The Prime Minister spent some time on the river, clicking pictures with his own camera. Although Biswas did not get the chance to take a photograph with Modi, he expressed immense joy at being part of the rare moment. “His boat-ride continued for some time and I took the boat till the middle of the river. Though excited, I was not nervous while sailing,” he said.

Communication between the two was limited, as Biswas does not speak Hindi. “He asked my name and I replied. That was all. The conversation could not continue probably because neither I can understand nor speak Hindi. Then he gestured to me to go till the middle of the river, which I did,” Biswas explained.

Despite the language barrier, Biswas described the experience as deeply satisfying. “I am very happy that I sailed the boat in which the Prime Minister of the country was travelling. The other persons accompanying the Prime Minister were speaking among themselves in Hindi, which I could not understand,” he added.

Biswas mentioned that he had previously ferried film stars on his boat, but carrying the Prime Minister was a completely different feeling. “Sailing the boat in which the Prime Minister was travelling was a different experience after all,” he said.

Also Read: PM Modi Takes Boat Ride On Hooghly, Expresses Gratitude To Maa Ganga

Later, Prime Minister Modi shared pictures of his boat ride on social media, emphasizing the cultural and spiritual significance of the Ganga River for Bengalis. “For every Bengali, the Ganga occupies a very special place. One can say that the Ganga flows through the soul of Bengal. Her divine waters carry the timeless spirit of an entire civilisation,” Modi wrote.

For Gouranga Biswas, the day will remain etched in memory as a once-in-a-lifetime honor — rowing the leader of the nation across the sacred waters of the Hooghly.