What Modi’s Gifts To The Bidens Mean, From A Sandalwood Box To The Upanishads
The US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden received a special sandalwood box, a 7.5-carat green diamond, and a book about the Upanishads from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a three-day official State visit. The Bidens also hosted him for a private dinner on Wednesday.
According to organisers, the presents demonstrate the respect and significance that Indian culture attaches to experience.
Here is what Modi gave the Bidens, along with the customary significance that each item has.
Sandalwood Box, first
An exquisitely carved box made of sandalwood, produced by a Jaipuri artisan using sandalwood from Karnataka, was one of Modi’s presents to the Bidens. Items from India’s culture were included in the box, including a figurine of Ganesh, the god who is praised at the start of all Hindu prayers and is known as the “remover of obstacles.” A diya (an oil light) handcrafted by fifth-generation Bengali craftsmen was also included in the box. A silver coconut, South Indian sesame seeds, a 24-carat gold coin made by hand in Rajasthan, a handwoven silk cloth from Jharkhand, a copper plate with a shloka engraved on it, and various other items from various Indian states were also included in the box of gifts. The cow, which is a customary donation, would normally be included. The box’s contents, which include goods from all around India, give the Bidens a taste of our culture.
Second, “The Ten Principal Upanishads”
A book titled “The Ten Principal Upanishads” by Irish poet W.B. Yeats and Shri Purohit Swami was also given to Joe Biden by the prime minister. In his talks, Biden has often mentioned Yeats’ poetry and proclaimed his love for it. Joe Biden would appreciate receiving a first-edition copy of Yeats’ collaboration with Shri Purohit Swami as the poet had a deep appreciation for Indian spirituality and culture.
3. Diamond Grown in a Lab
The First Lady, Jill Biden, received customised presents from Narendra Modi as well. One of them was a lab-grown, 7.5-carat green diamond created in India using materials taken from the soil and renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. According to officials, the diamond “symbolises India’s 75 years of freedom and sustainable international relations” and is “a beacon of responsible luxury.” The Gemological Lab has confirmed the green diamond as emitting no more than 0.028 grammes of carbon per carat.
4. Paper-Machined Box
The gorgeous papier mache box holding the green diamond was expertly painted on paper pulp by artists. The papier mache box, or “kar-e-kalamdani,” was made in Kashmir and was embellished with flower designs and traditional Kashmiri patterns.
Along with presents for Narendra Modi, the Bidens also handed him a vintage camera, a book on wildlife photography, and a first-edition, personally-signed copy of a Robert Frost poetry collection.
Modi travelled from New York to Washington, where he presided over a historic gathering of UN representatives, diplomats, and notable individuals to celebrate the 9th International Day of Yoga earlier in the day.
