Marora, Haryana: It started with Delhi-based NGO Sulabh International running a campaign in 2017. The campaign used Trump’s pictures in hoardings to draw attention to the NGO’s work of building toilets in Marora, a village in one of the most backward districts of Haryana, Nuh. The NGO, at the time, used Marora’s name as ‘Trump Sulabh Village’ in their hoardings, prompting villagers to propose the renaming of Marora.
“We built all the toilets. At that time, there was a Trump campaign. We thought it would bring support for our work, but it was just a campaign. We never wanted to change the village name,” Monika Jain, chairperson of the Sulabh Sanitation Mission of the Delhi-based Sulabh International, told ThePrint.
When villagers proposed Marora’s renaming after Trump seven years ago, the district authorities rejected the idea and quickly ended any such efforts. However, with Trump set to re-enter the White House, villagers, who are still convinced of his contributions to Marora’s development, are preparing to approach the administration again for the name change.
According to Monika Jain, Delhi-based Sulabh International, currently working on women’s skill development in Marora and 16 other villages across Haryana, has had no connection with Trump.
“We didn’t receive any support or funding from Trump. We only wanted development. Marora had no toilets. Sometimes associating with a big name speeds up progress,” Jain said.
In the village, Mohammad Yusuf (55), a scrap dealer in a simple white dhoti and shirt, has lately formed a habit of watching videos of Donald Trump’s victory on his mobile phone.
With his eyes fixed on the screen, he said, “Trump has already done a lot of work here, including building toilets.”
For villagers like Yusuf, Trump’s win symbolises hope for positive change in Marora. The villagers believe Trump will address their basic needs, such as electricity, water, and schools.
“It would be great if more development work happens in our village. If Trump names this village after himself, it would lead to even more development,” Yusuf said.
Speaking to ThePrint, Abbas Ahmed, the representative for the sarpanch of Marora Gram Panchayat, said, “We will request that Marora be officially recognised as ‘Trump Village’ so that we can see proper development.”
Ahmed claimed that Sulabh International officials told him in 2017 that Trump wanted the village renamed after him. Trump, he said, helped build 97 toilets in Marora and 48 in Nizampur and also arranged for solar panels and lighting.
“We hope to submit our demand for the name change and other papers to the central and state governments. That will draw attention to our area and its problems,” he added.
Ahmed hopes that Trump will continue to support them. The village population has increased by roughly a hundred more people, and now it needs at least 150 toilets.
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A false narrative
Stories of Trump’s development work float around in Marora.
Struggling with his phone, Yusuf gave a quick voice command: “Trump aaya Marora gaon mein sulabh sauchalaya banane. (Trump comes to Marora village to build public toilets).”
Some Hindi news articles and YouTube videos popped up. Yusuf opened a YouTube video posted by Sulabh International.
The video from June 2017 shows Sulabh International founder, the late Dr Bindeshwar Pathak, inaugurating toilets and renaming Marora ‘Trump Sulabh Village’ in the background of Trump’s poster.
Recalling the events from June 2017, Ahmed said many outsiders attended the NGO’s programme at Marora government school grounds. The villagers believe that Trump was also supposed to be in attendance but could not come in the end.
This was when Prime Minister Narendra Modi first met then-US President Donald Trump in Washington DC.
“The NGO told us President Trump wanted to name the village after himself and personally contribute to its development. We were thrilled that our village would be renamed after the US president,” Ahmed said.
However, the district authorities quickly dashed their hopes, citing the lack of formal permission from the local and government bodies, and also removed all hoardings and banners.
A Marora government school, on the condition of anonymity, said the NGO told the school about organising an event for Trump’s visit and requested space for a stage and food stalls. Initially, the school denied the request, citing a lack of security and cleaning staff, but later granted permission.
The official said that over 170 students get primary education in the school, which has four teachers and two more faculty positions lying vacant. The school has no electricity, which prevents the use of Wi-Fi.
The biggest issue in the village, however, is water.
“There is no direct water supply here. We order water tankers from outside,” Yusuf said.
The larger the family, the more water tankers it needs. Each tanker lasts roughly 10 days and costs Rs 1,100. In the summer, four tankers a month are required per family.
Villagers also face issues with roads, and the poorest among them do not have houses as well.
Yusuf said he had not seen Trump in the village and did not know which country Trump belonged to. But for him, Trump is a hero.
“Trump has done a lot here. We even have toilets named after him, which makes us feel he invested in us,” he says, pointing to a non-functional public toilet.
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The story of Carterpuri
According to Monika Jain, they chose Marora for the Trump campaign due to the positive response from the villagers. Neighbouring villages objected to the campaign, saying it would bring no real change.
“Will development only happen under Trump’s name? Can’t Marora’s name bring progress?” asked Mohammad Asif, a resident of Nagina.
However, this is not the first time a village has been renamed after a US president. Ward no. 3 of Gurugram’s Municipal Corporation—Carterpuri—was renamed after former US President Jimmy Carter.
Manohar Lal (76), the namberdar of Carterpuri, brought out old black-and-white photos, showing residents of the village, formerly known as Daulatpur Nasirabad, presenting garlands to Carter and his wife, Rosalynn Carter, on 3 January 1978.
Lal recalled that before India’s independence, Jimmy Carter’s mother, Lillian Carter, often visited the village of Daulatpur Nasirabad for social welfare work.
Her son went on to become the 39th President of the United States. On his visit to India, Jimmy Carter visited Daulatpur Nasirabad, following his mother’s advice.
During the visit, Jimmy Carter and his wife wore traditional Haryanvi outfits provided by the villagers.
The then chief minister of Haryana, Devi Lal, who had been accompanying the couple, asked villagers from a stage, “We want to rename this village as Carterpuri. Would you agree to this name change?”
The villagers expressed their agreement.
“Let’s name it Carterpuri,” the CM announced as the crowd applauded.
The name change, however, did not bring additional government support for development in Carterpuri, the namberdar said.
“Carterpuri is undergoing the natural process of development. This village has a rich history. Given that background, the development here has not reached the level it should have,” Manoj Rao, a resident of Carterpuri, told ThePrint.
He credited the village’s growth to its location adjacent to the highway and airport. At the same time, he highlighted encroachments and gaps in cleanliness and law enforcement.
When ThePrint told Ahmed and Yusuf that Trump had no connection to their village, disappointment washed over them.
“If Trump is not linked to our village, why don’t NGOs themselves come forward to build more toilets here?” Ahmed asked.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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