PM presents unique artisanal gifts to world leaders as India assumes G20 presidency
PM Modi gifted the artistic memoirs like ‘Kangra Miniature Paintings’, ‘Patan scarf’,‘Silver Bowl’, Kinnaur’s Shawl and many others made by local artisans to all the country’s heads while administering the G20 presidency at the end of Summit in Bali.
Taking over the presidency of the ongoing G20 Summit in Bali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 16 November presented gifts to world leaders highlighting India’s culture and arts.
Following are the gifts presented to various country heads with their significance: :
USA: PM gifted ‘Kangra Miniature Paintings’ made by master painters from Himachal Pradesh using natural colors which generally portray ‘Shringar Rasa’ or depiction of love on a natural backdrop. The art originated in a small hill state ‘Guler’ in the first half of the 18th century when a family of Kashmiri painters — trained in Mughal Style of painting — sought shelter at the court of Raja Dalip Singh of Guler.
United Kingdom: He gifted Ahmedabad’s Mata Ni Pachedi to the United Kingdom, which is a handmade textile of Gujarat and meant to be an offering in the temple shrines which house the Mother Goddess. Mata Ni Pachedi was crafted by the nomadic community of Waghris as a homage to the various incarnations of Goddess.
Italy: He gifted ‘Patan Patola Dupatta’ or ‘Patan scarf’ which is a textile woven by the Salvi family in Patan area of Northern Gujarat and is crafted so meticulously that it becomes a riot of colours.The Patan Patola Dupatta is packed in a ‘Sadeli’ box, which in itself is a decorative piece. Sadeli is a highly skilled wood craft with geometric design, native to Surat area of Gujarat.
France, Germany, Singapore: To all these three countries, PM Modi gifted Kutch’s ‘Agate Bowl’, which is a semi-precious stone formed of chalcedonic-silica, is found in underground mines of Rajpipla and Ratanpur in riverbeds, and extracted to produce a variety of ornamental objects. It is currently practised by artisans of Khambat.
Spain: PM Modi gifted ‘Kanal Brass Set’ to Spain which is a large, straight brass trumpet, over a metre long, played during ceremonial occasions in parts of Himalayan India. These traditional musical instruments are now increasingly used as décor objects and are manufactured in Mandi and Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh by skilled metal craftspersons.
Australia: India gifted Chhota Udaipur’s ‘Pithora’ to Australia which is a ritualistic tribal folk art by the Rathwa artisans of Gujarat. These paintings are depictions of the cave paintings that the tribe used to make reflecting the social, cultural and mythological life and beliefs of those tribals. These paintings bear a striking resemblance to the Aboriginal dot painting from the indigenous communities of Australia.
Indonesia: For Indonesia, PM Modi chose Surat’s ‘Silver Bowl’ and Kinnaur’s Shawl. The Surat’s silver bowl is a centuries old craft perfected by the traditional and highly skilled metalsmiths of Surat region in Gujarat.
While ‘Kinnauri Shawl’ are the specialties of the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. The designs show influence from Central Asia and Tibet, while the shawls are made using the extra-weft technique of weaving by tribal people.
