NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson exchanged special commemorative gifts on Sunday to honor the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore.
Kristersson presented Modi with two replicas of hand-written epigrams by Tagore, along with a small explanatory text and a photograph of Tagore taken during his 1921 visit to Uppsala University. The statement noted that the originals of these epigrams, recently found in the Swedish National Archives, were created by Tagore during his trips to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.
In return, Modi gifted Kristersson a collection of Tagore’s works, accompanied by a handcrafted bag from Shantiniketan. This bag features motifs chosen by Tagore to uplift local artisans. The exchange highlighted Tagore’s belief that art should enliven everyday objects rather than remain confined to galleries.
Tagore, recognized as the first non-European Nobel Laureate, was unable to travel to Sweden in 1913 to accept the Nobel Prize but was later received by King Gustav V during his visit in 1921. This exchange of gifts coincides with the centenary of Tagore’s historic visit to Sweden in 1926.
Modi’s two-day visit to Sweden commenced on Sunday, during which he was awarded the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross’ in recognition of his significant contributions to the India-Sweden relationship and his visionary leadership.
The delegation-level talks between the two leaders reviewed the broad spectrum of bilateral relations and examined potential avenues for enhanced cooperation, particularly in trade, which is projected to reach USD 7.75 billion by 2025. Discussions focused on strengthening ties in various areas, including green transition, artificial intelligence (AI), emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defense, space, climate action, and fostering people-to-people connections.
