"The main reason for this is that, there is a defect in our attitudes towards boys and girls," he said.
 In this respect, the Prime Minister said, the life of the U.S. President is an inspiration, considering the "way he has brought up his two daughters, the way he is proud of his two daughters."

 He underlined that "to save the girl child and to educate the girl child is our social duty, cultural duty, and humanitarian responsibility. We should honour it."

Noting that they come from very humble backgrounds, both Obama and Modi said they had never imagined that they would occupy the top positions in their respective countries.

They said this in response to a question to Modi in which the questioner said that there was an old photograph of his clicked outside the White House and whether he had ever thought that one day he would go inside to meet the President.

 "At that time, I had never thought that sometime in my life, I would get a chance to visit the White House," said Modi who met Obama there in Washington last September.

 Obama added: "The same is true for me. When I first went to the White House, I stood outside that same fence, and looked in, and I certainly did not imagine that I would ever be visiting there, much less living there."

 In this context, he said, "I think both of us have been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity, coming from relatively humble beginnings.

  "And when I think about what's best in America and what's best in India, the notion that a tea seller or somebody who's born to a single mother like me, could end up leading our countries, is an extraordinary example of the opportunities that exist within our countries."

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Source: PTI