PM Modi gifts silver train to Biden, Pashmina shawl to Jill
- In Reports
- 04:20 PM, Sep 23, 2024
- Myind Staff
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented US President Joe Biden with an antique silver hand-engraved train model and gifted a Pashmina shawl in a papier-mâché box to US First Lady Jill Biden during his 3-day visit to the United States. The meeting took place in Biden's hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, before the Quad Leaders' Summit. The gifts served not just as a symbol of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries but also carried additional significance.
This antique hand-engraved silver train model is crafted from 92.5% silver by Maharashtra artisans. Along with showcasing the finest of Indian metalworking artistry, the model also features elaborate details made possible by age-old methods like engraving, repoussé (which involves hammering from the reverse to create raised designs), and dexterous filigree work. This honours the history of steam locomotives. With a sign on the model that reads "Delhi-Delaware" on the sides of the engine, the piece also emphasises the significance of ties between India and the US. President Joe Biden's home state of Delaware served as the venue for the Quad leaders' summit.
Biden shares a deep fascination for trains. In one of his posts on Instagram in 2020, he wrote, “It’s no secret I love trains. I’ve taken more than 7,000 round trips on Amtrak over the course of my career. When there was a chance to take a train trip to meet voters, it was full steam ahead.”
Modi has gifted Pashmina Shawl known for its exceptional softness to Dr Jill Biden. The wool from Changthangi goats, which inhabit the high altitudes of Ladakh, is used to make the famously soft and fine pashmina shawl. The shawls' vivid colours are produced using natural dyes made from minerals and plants. These handcrafted shawls skillfully spun and hand-combed by trained artisans using traditional methods showcase the handicraft legacy of Jammu and Kashmir. Traditionally, papier-mâché boxes are used to pack pashmina shawls. Paper pulp, glue, and other natural materials are combined to create these handcrafted boxes. The boxes themselves are a piece of art.
Following their bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden released a joint statement referring to the India-US partnership as the "defining partnership of the 21st century" and saying it is "decisively delivering on an ambitious agenda that serves the global good".
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