In March 1962, Jacqueline Kennedy, the First Lady of the United States, embarked on a highly publicized goodwill tour of India. While the media extensively covered her elegant fashion choices, her visit was much more than a mere spectacle of style. Acting as an informal diplomat, Kennedy strengthened Indo-American relations and deepened her personal appreciation for India’s rich artistic and architectural heritage. Her journey left a lasting impact, prompting her to return years later to co-produce a book on Indian art.
Accompanied by her sister, Lee Radziwill, and hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to India, John Kenneth Galbraith, Jacqueline Kennedy arrived in India on March 12, 1962, aboard an Air India flight. She was warmly welcomed and spent time with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, with whom she shared a mutual admiration. Their interactions symbolized a strengthening of diplomatic ties between India and the United States during a crucial period of the Cold War.
Kennedy’s itinerary included visits to some of India’s most historic and visually stunning locations. She explored the majestic Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri, admired the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal in Agra, and experienced the spiritual essence of Varanasi along the Ganges River. In Udaipur and Jaipur, she immersed herself in the regal grandeur of Rajasthan, staying in palaces and engaging with Indian royalty. Everywhere she went, she was met with enthusiastic crowds, eager to catch a glimpse of the charismatic First Lady.
Jacqueline Kennedy’s 1962 tour of India was a landmark moment in cultural diplomacy. Her visit not only symbolized the warm ties between India and the United States but also demonstrated how soft diplomacy—through art, architecture, and personal engagement—can create lasting international goodwill. More than six decades later, her journey remains a remarkable chapter in the history of U.S.-India relations, reflecting the power of cultural exchange in global diplomacy.
“I have been through a lot and I have suffered a great deal, but I’ve had lots of happy moments, as well. I have come to the conclusion that we must not expect too much from life. We must give to life at least as much as we receive from it. Every moment one lives is different from the other, the good, the bad, the hardship, the joy, the tragedy, love, and happiness are all interwoven into one single indescribable whole that is called life.”
