Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received the ashes of Shyamaji Krishna Varma, a freedom fighter who died in exile, from the Swiss authorities in Geneva.
"This is a glorious moment for us,'' Modi said after receiving the ashes at a ceremony in Geneva's municipal cemetery. "After half a century of Independence we have the opportunity to carry home the mortal remains of one of the greatest fighters for freedom.''
A Hindu priest chanted mantras as cemetery officials handed the black marble urns to Modi.
Varma was was born in Gujarat in 1857.
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Modi arrived in Switzerland from London earlier this week.
In England, Modi had faced protests and a lot of bad press for his failure in protecting the minority Muslim population during last year's riots in Gujarat.