It's difficult to fathom how the wheel of time spins. 21 years back Modi didn't have the slightest clue that his life was about to change. He had no idea that he would one day be given a red carpet welcome at the same building that he is standing in front of, enthusiastically having his photo taken.
He had no clue that he would one day be representing the world's largest democracy and will be carrying with him greetings from the nation of 1.25 billion people.
21 years ago his sole friend in New York was at the airport to welcome him. But today he was surrounded by limousines, men in black and US officials who had been excitedly waiting for him to land on America's soil.
21 years ago he roamed one of the world's largest city accompanied by his sole companion, but now he is expected to draw perhaps the largest crowd ever by a foreign leader on US soil when he takes the stage at New York's Madison Square Garden for an audience expected to total more than 18,000 people.
Thousands more are expected to pack New York's Times Square to watch his address in Hindi on big screens.
