PM Narendra Modi signing an autograph for Rita Mudi at a hospital in Midnapore. (PTI photo)

BANKURA: This Bankura Christian College second year student never thought an autograph from Prime Minister Narendra Modi would make her a celebrity in her village, some 230km from Kolkata.

The new-found fame has also landed two marriage proposals at the doorstep of 19-year-old Rita Mudi.

For the last 10 days life has been hectic, she said over the phone on Friday. "That day at the hospital when the PM came to my bedside, I told him how happy I was to see him," she said.

On July 16, Rita had travelled to Midnapore with her mother and sister to hear Modi speak. They sat below a tent that subsequently collapsed. They were rushed to hospital. The PM later came visiting and spoke to Rita, among others.

"I requested an autograph," Rita said."I saw him hesitate a bit, but I insisted. He then wrote, 'Rita Mudi tum sukhi raho (Stay well, Rita Mudi). Narendra Modi.' on a piece of paper."

"From the very next day, we started having a stream of visitors at our home. They all wanted to see the autograph," Rita said.

Mother Sandhya said: "Not only visitors, we received two marriage proposals for Rita. One was from Jharkhand's Tatanagar. The groom has his own business and had no demands. The second was from Bankura. The groom owns agricultural land. Both my daughters want to study. So we didn't show much interest."

Before this, the family had received a proposal for Rita but the groom had asked for Rs 1 lakh dowry. Rita's father didn't have the means to provide it. Rita said, "Marriage will happen when my parents decide but I want to study now."

