(This story originally appeared in on Jan 14, 2015)

NEW DELHI: It's not widely known outside his friends circle, but UN secretary general Ban ki Moon really likes a crisp "naan". Perhaps that came from the time he spent as a tenant in C Block, Vasant Vihar, in the 1970s. On his way to the airport on Tuesday afternoon, Ban ki Moon and his wife walked down memory lane when they stopped to see their old home.Looking back, Ban told TOI, "I started my diplomatic career in 1972 here. My son was born here in 1974. Even after I returned to Korea I was dealing with South Asia as a desk officer for the region. I have continuously dealt with regional issues. It has brought me to India many times." Ban ki Moon topped Korea's foreign service examination, joining the foreign ministry in 1970. He took his first overseas posting to India, turning down an opportunity to go to the US."It was quite natural that my daughter found an Indian as her spouse. I'm very proud. Yesterday I met my in-laws in Delhi. They live here." His daughter, Ban Hyun Hee , married UN official Siddharth Chatterjee , who currently works for the UN Population Fund. Talking to TOI in 2012, Ban ki Moon had lovingly described his grandson as the "best joint venture between Korea and India."On Tuesday, getting ready to visit his erstwhile landlady, Ban was wistful. "I have a sentimental attachment to the place and I wanted to visit them. I met the landlord, Sangram Singh, last time. But this time I was informed he had passed away. So I'm going to meet his wife and son."And he did. Garlanded by his former landlady's family in welcome, Ban and his wife looked around their old home. They noticed, regretfully, that the big banana tree was no longer there.