PM Modi presents unique gifts to BRICS leaders, gives Gond painting, Nagaland shawl, Pair of Surahi, check details

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave special gifts to the leaders of the organization, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, South African First Lady Tshepo Motsepe, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, during his three-day visit to South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS summit.

While South African first lady Tshepo Motsepe received a shawl from Nagaland, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was given a Gond painting from Madhya Pradesh. The Dravidian word "Kond," which translates to "green mountain," is where the term "Gond" originates. 

The shawl from Nagaland is a magnificent work of textile art that has been created for centuries by the tribes. One of the most striking elements of the shawl, which is made from locally available fabrics including cotton, silk, and wool, is its geometric and symbolic patterns. The tales, legends, and beliefs of the tribe served as inspiration for these patterns, each of which has a distinct importance.

On the other hand, the Bidri work Pair of Surahi, a uniquely Indian creation of a 500-year-old Persian exclusive to Bidar, was handed to Ramaphosa by PM Modi. The casting of the pair of surahis is carved with lovely patterns, and pure Silver wire is used for the inlay. Patterns are initially sketched on paper and then transferred to silver sheets in the centuries-old art known as nakkashi.

In an address to the media during the BRICS summit, PM Modi said that the "expansion and modernization" of BRICS is a message to all institutions throughout the world that they must adapt to the changing times.