Rome: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a five-nation tour, gifted a pack of 'Melody' toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which went viral on social media.
It also triggered various kinds of trolls and criticism from opposition parties.
However, it has now been revealed that Prime Minister Modi had wrapped up his tour of four other countries before presenting the 'Melody' toffees to Meloni, and had carried culturally significant gifts from India for the leaders of all those nations.
Promoting Indian heritage in the UAE Prime Minister Modi first visited the UAE, where he showcasing India's rich heritage by presenting President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with culturally significant Indian gifts, including GI-tagged agricultural products, traditional textiles, and handcrafted artworks.
To the Queen Mother of the UAE, the Prime Minister gifted Manipur's Chak-Hao rice, Madhya Pradesh's Maheshwari silk fabric, and a Karimnagar silver filigree box.
Famous as the "black rice" of Manipur, Chak-Hao is a precious aromatic rice sourced from the fertile valleys of Northeast India. Traditionally considered the "royal rice" of Manipur, it was once reserved exclusively for royalty and ceremonial occasions.
The Maheshwari silk represents one of India's most exquisite handloom traditions, originating from the historic town of Maheshwar on the banks of the Narmada River in Madhya Pradesh.
The intricate silver box from Karimnagar is a distinctive example of India's renowned Nakashi metal craft tradition. Known for the repoussé technique, this craft involves laboriously hammering intricate motifs into silver sheets by hand.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi gifted Mithila Makhana and a Koftgari work dagger to the UAE President. Mithila Makhana, also known as foxnuts, is a premium agricultural product from the Mithila region of Bihar.
Indian heritage showcase for the Dutch royalty
During his visit to the Netherlands, Prime Minister Modi presented specifically curated gifts to the Dutch leaders, reflecting India's rich cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and folk art traditions.
The gifts included blue pottery of Jaipur, Meenakari and Kundan jewellery, and Madhubani paintings, each symbolizing a distinct aspect of India's artistic legacy and cultural depth.
Prime Minister Modi gifted a piece of blue pottery to King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. It is a GI-tagged handicraft from Jaipur, Rajasthan, known for its vibrant cobalt-blue, white, and yellow designs.
To Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, the Prime Minister presented Meenakari and Kundan earrings, representing two of Rajasthan's most famous jewellery-making traditions.
He gifted Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten a Madhubani painting featuring a unique fish motif. Madhubani is a traditional folk art from the Mithila region of India and Nepal, known for its intricate patterns and vibrant use of pigments.
Orchid painting, palm leaf Pattachitra for Norway
Prime Minister Modi presented gifts highlighting nature, craftsmanship, and sustainability to the Norwegian royal family and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, bringing attention to India's rich cultural heritage.
Støre was gifted a pressed orchid painting along with orchid paperweights, crafted using real orchids and ferns obtained from the misty valleys of Sikkim. These artworks preserve the natural beauty of the Eastern Himalayas and reflect the eco-consciousness of India's first organic state. These gifts are said to emphasize the shared values between India and Norway, particularly in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
To Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, he gifted a Kalamkari painting featuring unique sun and moon motifs. Originating in Andhra Pradesh, Kalamkari is a centuries-old textile art tradition known for its intricate hand-painted designs using natural dyes.
To Queen Sonja of Norway, Modi gifted a palm leaf Pattachitra artwork from Odisha, which is one of India's oldest and most intricate art forms.
Tagore's works and Bengal's heritage on display in Sweden
During his visit to Sweden, Prime Minister Modi showcased the heritage of Bengal by gifting a handmade handbag from Shantiniketan and selected works of Rabindranath Tagore.
The Shantiniketan messenger bag uniquely hails from Shantiniketan, the 'abode of peace'. It is the place where Rabindranath Tagore envisioned a gathering of global minds. By blending traditional folk motifs with a modern, global aesthetic, Tagore created a unique visual language that provided a dignified and sustainable means of expression for the rural community. Notably, in 1913, Rabindranath Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature for Gitanjali.
