NEW DELHI, Oct 7: Swiss National Councillor Nik Gugger, the first Swiss parliamentarian of Indian origin, received a special welcome during Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin’s state visit to India, finding himself seated beside Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a luncheon in New Delhi.
Gugger was part of the Swiss delegation accompanying Parmelin on the state visit, which is focused on strengthening economic ties and cooperation in education and research. During the visit, India and Switzerland also signed agreements covering migration and exchanges for young professionals.
For the lunch at Hyderabad House, Gugger arrived wearing traditional Indian attire — a white silk shirt with a champagne-coloured Modi jacket featuring gold stripes, paired with dark blue trousers and shoes. He was reportedly the only member of the Swiss delegation dressed in Indian clothing.
His choice of attire caught Modi’s attention. When the two met, the Prime Minister reportedly complimented Gugger on his clothing and immediately noticed that both were wearing similar Modi jackets.
Gugger was then seated between prominent leaders, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on one side, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the other, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin nearby.
The meeting had a personal significance for Gugger, who was born in India and adopted by a Swiss couple. He is the first Swiss parliamentarian of Indian origin and has played a role in strengthening ties between Switzerland and India, including efforts connected with the India-Switzerland free trade agreement concluded in 2024.
Modi asked Gugger about his journey from India to Switzerland and his early life. The two reportedly interacted in a mix of Hindi and English.
The luncheon also featured a blend of Indian and Swiss flavours, including dishes such as barley soup, a raclette preparation, nut tart and masala chai ice cream.
Gugger and Modi also spoke about their respective backgrounds. Modi was born in Gujarat and grew up in modest circumstances, while Gugger was born in Karnataka and spent his early years in India before being adopted by Swiss parents.
Their conversation also touched upon music, including German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, whose work was part of the programme for the concert held during the luncheon.
Gugger described his interaction with Modi as a meaningful recognition of his efforts to build bridges between India and Switzerland. He said openness, trust, relationships and community-building were important principles in political life.
The Swiss parliamentarian also received a prominent place at a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday evening, where he was seated beside the Indian President.
Adding a personal touch to the visit, Prime Minister Modi invited Gugger and his parents, Fritz and Elisabeth Gugger, to return to India.
For Gugger, the invitation marked a particularly emotional moment, reflecting the personal and diplomatic significance of his connection with India.
