'Both of us blessed with extraordinary opportunity', says Prez Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he had been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity, although both came from relatively humble beginnings.

"You know, I think both of us have been blessed with an extraordinary opportunity, coming from relatively humble beginnings. And when I think about what's best in America and what's best in India, the notion that a tea seller or somebody who's born to a single mother like me, could end up leading our countries, is an extraordinary example of the opportunities that exist within our countries," said President Obama, in the special "Mann Ki Baat" radio address aired across the country .

"Now I think, a part of what motivates both you and I, is the belief that there are millions of children out there who have the same potential but may not have the same education, may not be getting exposed to opportunities in the same way, and so a part of our job, a part of government's job is that young people who have talent, and who have drive and are willing to work for, are able to succeed," he added.

The U.S President said when he had first visited the White House, he had never imagined that he would be living there.

"When I first went to the White House, I stood outside that same fence, and looked in, and I certainly did not imagine that I would ever be visiting there, much less living there," said the U.S. President, a thought shared by Prime Minister Modi, who said he had never imagined reaching where he was today.

Prime Minister Modi has previously addressed the nation three times since October via the radio programme.

The joint address by Prime Minister Modi and President Obama is the first such programme to be broadcast on radio.

It was broadcast hours after President Obama concluded his three-day visit to India, where he attended the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest and took part in business summits.