Gulabi meenakari brooch to ittar bottles: PM's gifts to G7 leaders a slice of Indian crafts

• During his visit to the recently held G7 summit, the Indian PM has presented various artistic gifts to each G member.

Gift Diplomacy

Gulabi Meenakari Brooch and Cufflinks from Varanasi

• Gifted to: US President
• Gulabi Meenakaari:
• GI tagged art from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
• Base: Pure Silver

Black Pottery from Nizamabad

• Gifted to: Japanese PM
• Nizamabad black clay pottery:
• GI tagged from Uttar Pradesh.
• Brought to Nizamabad during the reign of Mughals

Dokra Art from Chhattisgarh

• Gifted to: Argentina President
• Theme: Nandi
• Dhokra sculptures:
• An age-old wax-casting technique also known as Lost-wax process.
• Dhokra: alloy of brass, nickel and zinc which gives an antique look.
• Oldest specimen using such technique was during Harappan Period.
  • Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro.

Hand-painted Tea Set from Bulandshahar

• Gifted to: British PM
• Why Tea Set?
• Tea is considered an important part of British identity and is a prominent feature of British culture and society.

Ittar Bottles from Kannauj, Packed in Zardozi Box

• Gifted to: French President
• GI tagged perfumes from Kannauj, UP
• Lucknow Zardozi: GI tag fro Uttar Pradesh.
• Why Ittar Bottles?
• France is leader in perfume market with 30% of the world market.

Marble inlay tabletop from Agra

• Gifted to: Italian PM
• Why Marble Inlay?
• Marble inlay has its origins in Opus sectile - a form of pietra dura popularised in the ancient and medieval Roman world where materials were cut and inlaid into walls and floors to make a picture or pattern.

Moonj Baskets and Cotton Durries from Prayagraj, Amethi and Sultanpur

• Gifted to: Senegal President
• Agra Durrie: GI tagged
• Why Moonj Baskets and Durries?
• Tradition of hand-weaving is passed down from mother to daughter in Senegal.

Handmade knotted silk carpet from Kashmir

• Gifted to: Canadian PM
• Silk Carpet:
• GI tag from Kashmir
• Locally known as "Kal baffi"
• Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin brought carpet weavers from Persia and central Asia to Kashmir to train local inhabitants.

Metal Marodi Carving Matka from Moradabad

• Gifted to: German Chancellor
• Moradabad Metal Craft:
• GI tagged from Uttar Pradesh

Lacquerware Ramdarbar from Varanasi

• Gifted to: Indonasian PM
• Lacquerware:
• GI tagged art from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
• Why Ramdarbar?
• To celebrate the shared Ramayana links between India and Indonesia
• Indonesian version of Ramayana - known as Kakawin Ramayana - was written during the Medang Kingdom (8th-11th century) in Central Java.