PM Modi’s gift to G7 leaders

PM Modi’s gift to G7 leaders

Subject: History

Section: Art and Culture

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a visit to Germany to attend G7 Summit, presented its leaders with various gifts displaying India’s rich art and crafts, particularly, those related to Uttar Pradesh’s one district one product scheme.

Concept:

• Metal Marodi carving matka to German Chancellor. This nickel-coated, hand-engraved brass vessel is a masterpiece from District Moradabad.
• Gulabi Meenakari brooch and cufflink set to US President. Gulabi Meenakari is a GI-tagged art form of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
• A platinum-painted, hand-painted tea set from Bulandshahr, UP to UK PM.

• The French President got ltr bottles in a Zardozi box crafted in Lucknow. The zari zardozi box has been hand embroidered on khadi silk and satintissue in colours of the French National Flag. This box included Attar Mitti, Jasmine oil, Attar Shamama, Attar Gulab, Exotic Musk, and Garam Masala.
• Hand-knotted Kashmiri silk carpets to Canadian PM.
• Black Pottery pieces to Japan’s PM. The Black Pottery of Nizamabad in Uttar Pradesh uses a special technique to bring out black colours- while the pottery is inside the oven, it is ensured that there is no scope for oxygen to enter the oven and the heat level remains high.
• A marble inlay tabletop to Italy’s PM. Pietra dura or Marble inlay has its origins in the Opus sectile– a form of pietra dura popularized in the ancient and medieval Roman world where materials were cut and inlaid into walls and floors to make a picture or pattern.
• This marble table top with Inlay work has its origin in Agra of Taj Mahal fame.
• Dokra Art with Ramayana Theme to South Africa’s President. Dokra Art is non-ferrous metal casting art using the lost-wax casting technique.
• Nandi-themed Dokra Art to Argentina’s President.
• Moonj baskets and cotton durries to Senegal’s President.
• Lacquerware Ram Darbar to Indonesia’s President. The GI-tagged lacquerware art-form has its roots in the temple town of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Meenakari Art

• It is the process of painting and coloring the surfaces of metals and ceramic tiles through enameling originating in Safavid Iran.
• It is practiced as an art form and commercially produced mainly in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (the term Kundan is more widely used in India).
• Minakari art usually involves intricate designs (mainly using geometric shapes and designs) and is applied as a decorative feature to serving dishes, containers, vases, frames, display ornaments and jewelry.

Zardozi

• It is an Iranian and Indian-subcontinent embroidery
• Zardozi is a type of heavy and elaborate metal embroidery on a silk, satin, or velvet fabric base.
• Designs are often created using gold and silver threads and can incorporate pearls, beads, and precious stones.
• It is used as decoration for a wide range of applications, including clothes, household textiles, and animal trappings.
• Historically, it was used to adorn the walls of royal tents, scabbards, wall hangings and the paraphernalia of regal elephants and horses.
• Initially, the embroidery was done with pure silver wires and real gold leaves. However, today, craftsmen make use of a combination of copper wire, with a golden or silver polish, and silk thread.