• By Abhishek Sheoran
  • Wed, 16 Aug 2023 04:08 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday welcomed World Health Organisation (WHO) director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to India in a unique style. In his post on X (previously Twitter), PM Modi addressed Tedros as ‘Tulsi Bhai’ and shared a video by Ministry of Ayush where latter could be seen trying his hands on ‘dandiya’ in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.

“My good friend Tulsi Bhai is clearly well prepared for Navratri! Welcome to India, @DrTedros!,” PM Modi wrote.

Notably, addressing the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit last year, PM Modi shared an anecdote on how he started calling Tedros as ‘Tulsi Bhai’. “Tedros is a good friend of mine. He always told me Indian teachers taught me and I am here because of them. Today he told me - ‘I have become a pucca Gujarati. Have you decided a name for me?’ So I will call him Tulsi bhai as a Gujarati,” PM Modi had told.

The Tulsi plant (holy basil) has been an integral part of India’s spiritual heritage, the prime minister had also mentioned.

Tedros is in India for two-day WHO Global summit on Traditional Medicine. He will inaugurate the event in the presence of Union Minister of Health Mansukh Mandaviya and Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal.

The mega event will witness participation of G20 health ministers, WHO regional directors and eminent invitees from countries across the UN health body’s six regions. Besides, scientists, traditional medicine practitioners, health workers and civil society members are also expected to attend.

The sessions under the summit will discuss researches, policies, and data. Yoga and meditation sessions will also be held in the backdrop of the summit.