PM Modi Gift To World Leaders: Every gift says something! Prime Minister Modi’s gifts tell the story of India in diplomacy

Summary

Everything has its importance in diplomacy. Especially gifts. This is the reason why during the last few years, Prime Minister Modi has tried to give a new dimension to the ritual of gifts in his international contacts and meetings. Recently, during his visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana, Prime Minister Modi tried to connect Africa and South America with different states of India through his gifts.

Expansion
Over the years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed India’s foreign diplomacy into a vibrant showcase of cultural diversity. With each international visit, he carries not only India’s diplomatic agenda but also its rich heritage, showcasing its traditions, languages, art and spirituality.

How many gifts did PM Modi take from which states?

During his visit to three countries, PM Modi took 8 gifts from Maharashtra, 5 from Jammu and Kashmir, 3 each from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, 2 from Jharkhand and 1 each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Ladakh. During the five days, PM Modi met 31 leaders from many countries and along with taking forward the agenda of bilateral relations, he also ensured that the fragrance and colour of friendship in the relations goes forward through gifts.

According to official sources familiar with the gift selection process, through these gifts, Prime Minister Modi tries to create a blend of Indian culture and diplomacy so that every foreign trip of the Prime Minister can turn into a celebration of India’s unity in diversity.

Marble Inlay Work Table with Stand

Prime Minister Modi’s gifts – Photo: ANI

Special gifts from the electoral state Maharashtra

PM Modi, who went on a foreign tour in the midst of Maharashtra’s assembly elections, did not forget to take the colors of Maharashtra with him. Among the gifts received from Maharashtra, he presented Silofar Panchamrit Kalash (utensil) made in Kolhapur, Maharashtra to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which is a wonderful example of traditional craftsmanship. PM Modi presented paintings made by artists of the Warli tribe in Dahanu, Talasari and Palghar areas of Maharashtra to the President of Brazil, with whom he met on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

When PM Modi met the leaders of the Caribbean countries in his recent foreign tour, he brought something special for everyone. According to sources, the gift hamper that PM Modi gifted to the leaders of the CARICOM countries also included a Warli painting as a gift.

Prime Minister Modi’s gifts – Photo: ANI

PM gave these gifts to these leaders

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took a silver camel and a natural rough sapphire made by Pune’s artists with him after meeting PM Modi. In the meeting with the Prime Minister of Portugal, a silver chess set carved with traditional design was given to him as a gift from India.

As a symbol of the light of relations between India and Italy, PM Modi gifted a silver candle stand to Prime Minister Georgia Maloney. A silver carved fruit bowl was also included in the gift basket prepared for the Secretary General of CARICOM.
The gift for the First Lady of Guyana arrived with a Kashmiri flavour. The pashmina shawl kept in a papier mache box will now decorate her house and also make her feel the warmth of the relations between the two countries. The fragrance of Kashmir was also included in the customized gift hamper given to the leaders of CARICOM countries. Along with the gifts, they have also received Kashmiri saffron as a gift from India.

The silver photo frame which was among the gifts from Rajasthan that arrived in the Prime Minister’s plane has now reached Buenos Aires with the President of Argentina. The specially carved ‘Pietra Dura’ made of Makrana marble from Rajasthan will keep reminding the Prime Minister of Norway of the relations with India. The Raj Sawari statue with gold work prepared by the hard work and craftsmanship of the craftsmen of Rajasthan will enhance the beauty of the house of Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips.

Not only gifts from North India but also from South India reached abroad in Prime Minister Modi’s gift basket. In this series, a silver clutch purse studded with precious stones from Andhra Pradesh was presented to the wife of the President of Brazil. Special coffee grown in the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh was also included in the customized gift hamper given to the leaders of the CARICOM countries.

The Vice President of Nigeria was given Hazaribagh’s Sohrai painting which is known for depiction of animals, birds and nature. For the President of Indonesia, PM Modi had brought Khovar painting which represents the tribal art and cultural diversity of Jharkhand.

In the series of gifts, PM Modi presented a finely carved and engraved silver photo frame made of wood made in Uttar Pradesh to the President of Chile. He also gave a toy train made of special wood of Channapatna, a small town in Karnataka, to the younger son of Guyana President Irfan Ali.

PM Modi presented the famous Thanjavur painting of Tamil Nadu to French President Emmanuel Macron. Call it a gesture of friendship or a message of diplomacy, PM Modi presented the French President a sample of the art of the artists of Tamil Nadu where there used to be a French colony in the adjoining Karaikal and Puducherry areas.

Prime Minister Modi’s gifts – Photo: ANI

Madhubani painting presented to the President of Guyana
While giving the message of remembering the old cultural relations, PM Modi presented the famous Madhubani painting of Bihar to the President of Guyana. A large part of the population of Guyana has its roots in those people who were taken from India as workers during the colonial period. The Vice-President of Guyana was presented with a silver filigree boat made in the Cuttack region of Odisha, while the Ladakhi kettle decorated with precious stones was gifted to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Guyana.