Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson exchanged commemorative gifts celebrating the legacy of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the deep cultural ties between India and Sweden.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson exchanged special gifts to honour the enduring legacy of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and the shared cultural heritage between India and Sweden.
Prime Minister Kristersson presented a commemorative box containing replicas of two handwritten epigrams by Gurudev Tagore. The gift also included a photograph of Tagore taken during his 1921 visit to Uppsala University and an explanatory note about the historic documents. The original epigrams were recently discovered in the Swedish National Archives and were created by Tagore during his visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.
In return, Prime Minister Modi gifted a collection of Rabindranath Tagore’s works along with a specially handcrafted bag from Shantiniketan. The bag featured artistic motifs chosen by Gurudev Tagore to support and empower local artisans.
The handcrafted gift reflected Tagore’s philosophy that art should become a part of daily life and not remain limited to galleries or elite spaces. It symbolized the connection between creativity, culture, and everyday living.
Although Rabindranath Tagore could not travel to Sweden in 1913 to personally receive his Nobel Prize, he later visited Sweden in 1921 and was welcomed by King Gustav V. The exchange of gifts also marked the centenary of Gurudev Tagore’s historic visit to Sweden in 1926.
The gesture highlighted the strong cultural and intellectual bond shared by India and Sweden and paid tribute to the timeless legacy of Rabindranath Tagore.
Source: PM India
