PM Narendra Modi praises Lovlina for objecting to distorted India map at Glasgow restaurant
New Delhi, Aug 10
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised silver medalist boxer Lovlina Borgohain for raising an objection after spotting a distorted map of India at a restaurant in Glasgow during the 2026 Commonwealth Games, saying her gesture would be remembered for a long time.
At his meeting with India's Commonwealth champions following their trip to Scotland, Modi mentioned the incident. After the meeting, Lovlina, who had won a silver medal in the women's 75kg event, was questioned by the Prime Minister about it.
"Kya hua wo restaurant waale se jhagda kar rahi thi? (What happened, you were fighting with that restaurant guy?)" PM Modi asked the Assam boxer.
Lovlina laughed and said that she had raised the point only since she was uncomfortable with the distorted map, even though the team were celebrating their success at the Commonwealth Games.
"It was a happy occasion sir, we were celebrating and I didn't like to see the distorted flag. I politely told them and they have made the changes also," Lovlina replied.
Narendra Modi praised the boxer for having noticed the problem even though she was in a celebratory mood and stated that her actions had importance that went beyond the immediate moment.
"To be able to recognise the significance of that map at a time when you were celebrating, and the Games were over, I can tell you truthfully that video was not ordinary. It will be remembered by people for a very long time," he said.
The incident took place following India's boxing team having a historic performance in Glasgow, bringing home a total of 10 medals. This consisted of seven gold and three silver medals, one of which was Lovlina's silver in the women's 75kg event. At a celebratory dinner with the members of the Indian boxing team, Lovlina noticed that the map of India on the restaurant's menu was missing the Northeast. She then took the issue up with the restaurant management.
"Please don't take this the wrong way. I felt a little hurt by this. In the map of India, our Northeast is missing. Yes, even outside, the map that's displayed has cut off the Northeast. As someone from the Northeast, that really hurts us. That's all I wanted to say. Please keep this in mind next time. Thank you so much," she told the restaurant staff.
After Lovlina drew the restaurant's attention to the matter, it then altered the map.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is the kind of awareness we need more of. It's easy to ignore such things when you're celebrating, but Lovlina noticed it and took action. The fact that the restaurant actually corrected the map shows that polite but firm communication works. PM Modi's praise is well-deserved. Good job!
While I appreciate the sentiment, I hope we don't make this into a political statement. The map was incorrect, Lovlina pointed it out politely, and it got fixed. That's the right way to handle such matters. But let's not forget the real achievement here - her silver medal and the boxing team's incredible performance at the Commonwealth Games. 🥊
As someone from the Northeast, this really touched me. We often talk about how the Northeast is ignored in India, and here Lovlina made sure the world gets the map right. It's not just about a map - it's about respect for our region and our nation. PM Modi recognizing this is heartening. So proud of Lovlina! 🌟
This is the kind of patriotism we need - not just waving flags on Independence Day, but paying attention to our national symbols even in small settings like a restaurant menu. Lovlina showing this awareness, and PM Modi amplifying it, sends a strong message. But I also hope we keep the focus on her sporting achievement which is truly historic. 🙌
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.