India, Sept. 24 -- Throughout history, birthplaces of prominent leaders have often attracted state funding to improve infrastructure and create memorials celebrating their legacy. In line with this tradition, Vadnagar in north Gujarat, the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has seen a series of development projects in recent years.

Modi, who was born in 1950 and spent the first 18 years of his life in Vadnagar, celebrated his 75th birthday less than a week ago. Perhaps the most unique gift for Vadnagar's residents was the nomination of their town by the Indian government for the tentative list of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage sites. There are 69 other Indian sites on the...