'Thought I Was Dreaming': Boatman Gouranga Biswas Recounts His 40-Minute Hooghly Ride With PM Modi

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 22:21 IST

The Prime Minister’s early morning boat ride has drawn attention in political circles as well, adding to recent public outreach moments

At around 6.30 am on Friday, as boatmen at Kolkata’s Prinsep Ghat began their routine preparations for the day, an unexpected moment unfolded on the banks of the Hooghly River. Gouranga Biswas, a local boatman, along with his colleagues, suddenly noticed Prime Minister Narendra Modi approaching the ghat.

Gouranga, who has been working as a majhi (boatman) at the ghat for the past 17 years, said he was momentarily stunned. “I saw the Prime Minister walking towards me. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming," he told News18. It took him some time to regain composure as the crowd around the ghat began to swell.

According to Gouranga, the Prime Minister boarded a boat and spent over 40 minutes on the river. During the ride, he was seen taking photographs of key landmarks, including the Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu.

Recounting the interaction, Gouranga said, “After the ride, he called me, asked my name, and took a photograph with me. I still cannot believe that I met the Prime Minister today."

He further noted that in nearly two decades of working at the ghat, he had never seen any political figure visit in this manner. The incident has since become a major talking point among local boat operators, many of whom have described Gouranga as “fortunate".

Speaking with News18, he added, “Everyone is telling me this is something big. I am still trying to understand whether it really happened."

The Prime Minister’s early morning boat ride has drawn attention in political circles as well, adding to recent public outreach moments. However, for Gouranga Biswas, the experience remains deeply personal—an unexpected encounter that has left him visibly overwhelmed.

News india 'Thought I Was Dreaming': Boatman Gouranga Biswas Recounts His 40-Minute Hooghly Ride With PM Modi

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