Gulabi Meenakari brooch, cufflink, Black Pottery, Platinum painted hand painted Tea Set, and Zari Zardozi box were among the few specialised items gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Group of Seven leaders during his two-day visit to Germany. PM Modi was the senior most global leader holding country’s top office at the G7 summit and carried special gifts for all the leaders made under UP one district one product scheme. He has already attended three G7 summits on invitation, highlighting India importance in global scheme of things.
PM Modi gifted US President Joe Biden Gulabi Meenakari brooch, a piece of pure silver which is moulded into a base form, and the chosen design is embossed in the metal. It is a GI tagged art-form of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The cufflinks were prepared for Biden with a matching brooch for the First Lady, Jill Biden.
French President Emmanuel Macron received a carrier box crafted in Lucknow. The Zari Zardozi box was hand embroidered on khadi silk and satin tissue in the three colours of the French National Flag, which has its origin in the French Revolution. The box included Attar Mitti – a unique attar produced in UP’s Kannauj – Jasmine Oil, Attar Shamama, Attar Gulab, Exotic Musk, and Garam Masala. Prime Minister Modi gifted platinum painted hand painted tea set from Bulandhshahr district to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. According to Prime Minister’s Office, the crockery has been outlined with platinum metal paint in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee being celebrated this year.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida received Black Pottery pieces made in Nizamabad. A special technique was used to bring out black colours – by ensuring that there is no scope for oxygen to enter the oven and the heat level remains high when the pottery is inside the oven.
Canadian President Justin Trudeau was gifted a hand-knitted silk carpet from Kashmir. The Kashmiri hand-knitted silk carpets are famous all over the world for their softness, lushness, luxury and dedicated craftsmanship. For Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi, PM Modi had taken Marble Inlay table top to Germany. This marble table top with Inlay work has its origin in Agra. Made of semi-precious stones with gradients in their colour, this table top is very similar to Italian marble inlay work, according to PMO. PM Modi also gifted specialized items to other guest leaders from Indonesia, Senegal, and South Africa. While Senegal President received Moonj baskets and cotton durries from PM Modi, Indonesia President Joko Widodo was gifted Lacquerware Ram Durbar, the GI tagged lacquerware art-form which has its roots in the temple town of Varanasi.South African President Cyril Ramaphosa got Dokra Art with Ramayana Theme. This non–ferrous metal casting art has been used in India for over 4,000 years.
