The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, recently traveled to Cyprus and presented the country’s President, Nikos Christodoulides, with two stunning presents. They were not run-of-the-mill presents – they were special items that reflect India’s incredible art and culture. Modi presented the President of Cyprus with a handmade Kashmiri silk carpet and a silver pouch made in Andhra Pradesh.
Prime Minister Modi has a quirky custom. When he receives visiting foreign dignitaries, he prefers to present them gifts symbolizing India’s rich culture and heritage. These are not pleasant things – they narrate the history, artwork, and skilled individuals who create beautiful things by their own hands.
By gifting these cultural treasures, Modi educates other world leaders on India’s heritage. It is as if a portion of India’s heart is being given to the world. Every gift has the heritage of the location that it originates from and the people who created it.
The first gift was a Kashmiri silk carpet, handmade. This is not any carpet – it’s art that talks about the amazing handwork of the artisans of Kashmir. These are the very people who have been creating carpets for generations and passed on their art from one generation to another.
It is extremely painstaking effort that takes considerable time to produce a Kashmiri silk carpet. The craftsmen employ a centuries-old method of hand-knotting that has been practiced by them for centuries. They manually knot thousands of extremely small knots to produce the carpet. They put these knots carefully so that they form exquisite patterns and designs.
The carpet presented to the President of Cyprus was made of pure mulberry silk. It’s the most costly type of silk drawn from silkworms that live on mulberry leaves. The silk is so smooth and shiny that the carpet seems radiating.
The natural dyes are used in the carpet. Natural material is used by the artisans to dye the silk, in lieu of artificial dyes. This results in more lovely colors and makes them long lasting.
The motifs of the Kashmiri carpets are drawn from the natural beauty of Kashmir. The place is renowned for its stunning lakes, towering chinar trees, and lovely flowers. All these natural wonders of Kashmir are reflected in the designs of the carpets in the form of intricately woven patterns detailing the history of the land of Kashmir.
The carpet presented to Cyprus President possesses some extremely distinctive qualities. It is highly red in color with red and fawn borders. It features the use of classic vine motifs and geometric motifs, which Kashmir has employed for centuries.
One of the loveliest features of this carpet is its “two-tone effect.” This is because, depending on where and how you view the carpet, it appears to be changing color. It’s as if you are getting two carpets for the price of one! This is produced because of the manner in which the silk picks up the light and reveals the expertise of the carpet weavers.
The carpet also possesses an extremely dense knot. This indicates that there are many knots per square inch, so the carpet is extremely complex and worth a lot of money. The more per square inch, the more complex the pattern can be and the worthier the carpet.
Kashmiri silk rugs are the world’s finest. They are frequently handed down from generation to generation within families as treasured family heirlooms. Individuals value such rugs not just for their beauty, but also as a symbol of tradition, craftsmanship, and cultural heritage.
If a Kashmiri silk carpet is possessed by someone, it is deemed to be a symbol of taste and sophistication. Kashmiri silk carpets are held in such high regard that the number of years they spend increases their worth, provided that they are properly maintained.
The second gift was a silver clutch purse made in Andhra Pradesh, a southern Indian state. The purse fuses the ancient art of metalwork with modern fashion to create something beautiful and functional.
The bag was created through a method named repousse. It is an extremely ancient method of metalwork that has been employed for thousands of years. Under this process, metal workers hammer at the back of the metal to form embossed designs on the front. This requires immense skill and patience to achieve detailed designs in such a manner.
The motifs on the handbag are large flower designs. The motifs of the flowers take inspiration from the artwork that can be seen in ancient temples and kings’ palace. This relates the handbag to India’s rich temple architecture and royal heritage history.
The bag also has lots of pretty details that make it stand out. On the inside of the bag, there is a semi-precious stone which makes it so glamorous and shine nicely in the light. The bag is also curvy and will be extremely easy to hold, and it has a classy handle which will be extremely easy to carry around.
The seams of the purse are adorned with small patterns that symbolize the craftsmanship of the metalworker. All put together here make the purse have the appearance as if it belonged to a princess and queen many years back.
Earlier, these bags were only used on special occasions such as weddings and festivals. They were valued possessions which were only used on special occasions. Now, these bags have become fashion accessories that one can utilize more.
These bags are popular among modern individuals since they are not just stunning but also valuable enough to become a collector’s piece. They reflect India’s rich craft and metalwork tradition in a manner that goes well with contemporary fashion.
Both of the presents Modi presented to the President of Cyprus are symbols of the wonderful handicraft heritage of India. These are not mass-produced items – they are the craft of trained hands that have been developing their skill over the course of a couple of years.
When such handicrafts are gifted by leaders like Modi, they are of good use for the artisans’ communities. Such artisans primarily dwell in villages and live on their age-old crafts. When their work is showcased and appreciated at the international level, it works in favor of such age-old traditions and generates income for the artisans and their families.
These presents also guarantee that old ways of doing things are not forgotten. Many traditional crafts today are being replaced by machine-made ones. Through this promotion of the hand-made products, Modi guarantees that these old skills are passed down to generations to come.
Modi’s greatest gift of gifts is also a form of cultural diplomacy. It refers to the exchange of culture and art to develop friendships and a feeling of understanding between nations. Since these fine Indian handicrafts are presented to the President of Cyprus, he becomes acquainted with the culture and traditions of India at a personal level.
These gifts leave permanent impressions and memories. Every time the Cyprus President looks at the carpet or the purse, he is bound to recollect his encounter with Modi and remember India. This boosts unity between the two nations.
Indian handicraft items such as the Kashmiri carpet and Andhra Pradesh silver purse are appreciated throughout the globe. The talent, beauty, and culture of these products are enjoyed by people from many different nations.
The appreciation globally gives India’s craftsmen the chance to sell to new markets and buyers. This also gives scope to promote awareness of India’s rich diversified cultural heritage to those who may not otherwise become aware of it.
The presents that Prime Minister Modi has bestowed upon the Cyprus President – the Kashmiri hand-made silk carpet and the Andhra Pradesh silver purse – are not presents. They are envoys of Indian culture, bearing within them centuries of tradition, craftsmanship, and aesthetic excellence.
These gifts tell the world that India is not only a contemporary, developing country, but also a nation with firm cultural roots and beautiful traditions of art. They are the hands and hearts of talented craftsmen who keep on producing beautiful things by refining techniques that have been handed down from one generation to another.
In presenting these tokens as gifts, Modi is reaffirming his cultural diplomacy heritage of bridging the divides between countries in the shared beauty and art. Each gift is a story – of the natural beauty of Kashmir, of the metal work tradition of Andhra Pradesh, and of India’s commitment to conservation and sharing its vibrant cultural heritage with the global community.
These presents will probably be a cherished asset of Cyprus in years to come as beautiful reminders of India’s and Cyprus’s friendship, and of the rich cultural heritage that has made India a unique and bizarre nation.
ZAMAN NOOR
Writer is an Independent Public Opinion Analyst, Research Columnist and Peace Maker.
can be reached at [email protected]
