New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased Maharashtra’s handcrafted works to the leaders of Iran and Uzbekistan and Jharkhand’s art to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the recent BRICS Summit, according to officials.

PM Modi gifted a Mother of Pearl (MOP) sea-shell vase to Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The officials noted that the vase, sourced from the coastal artisans of Maharashtra, stands as a testament to the state’s skilled craftsmanship and natural beauty.

To Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, PM Modi presented a traditional Warli painting, a revered art form from Maharashtra’s Warli tribe.

The officials highlighted the painting’s cultural significance, tracing back nearly 5,000 years and now celebrated worldwide for its distinct style and minimalistic beauty.

Created with basic geometric shapes, Warli paintings illustrate tribal life through depictions of nature, festivals and communal activities.

Granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2014, Warli art has evolved to contemporary mediums, symbolising an enduring yet adaptable heritage.

Putin was presented with a Sohrai painting from Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district. Sohrai Paintings are recognised as an ODOP (One District One Product) item. They are known for their use of natural pigments and simple tools.

Artists often use brushes made from twigs, rice straw or even fingers to create intricate designs. They are known for their simple yet expressive storytelling. The depiction of animals, birds and nature is a reflection of the agrarian lifestyle and the reverence for wildlife in tribal culture, the officials said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India supports restoration of peace between Ukraine and Russia and is committed to providing “all possible assistance” to end the crisis, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (October 22, 2024) during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Modi took part in the bilateral meeting soon after reaching Kazan where Russia is hosting the 16th BRICS summit in the backdrop of the continued conflicts in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. Mr. Modi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and called for the de-escalation of tension in the West Asian region.

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“We have been in continuous contact over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. As I have said before, we continue to believe that these disputes should be resolved through peaceful means. We support restoration of peace and stability as soon as possible. Our efforts prioritise humanity. India is ready to provide all possible assistance in the upcoming period,” said Mr. Modi in his opening remarks. The Prime Minister’s participation in the BRICS events in Kazan comes months after he travelled to Moscow for the summit last July.

Earlier, Mr. Modi was received by Rustam Minnikhanov, head of the Republic of Tatarstan and given a traditional Tatar welcome at Kazan, which is the largest city and the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan. He was driven to the bilateral meeting with Mr. Putin in an Aurus car.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press briefing that the two sides also discussed the early release of Indian nationals who had ended up fighting for the Russian military on the Ukraine front, after being duped by unscrupulous foreign employment agents. “Currently the embassy is pursuing around twenty cases with the Russian side and we very much hope that all of these individuals can be released at an early date and repatriated to India,” said Mr. Misri.

Mr. Misri announced that the two sides will hold the 25th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on trade, technical and cultural cooperation in November in New Delhi and that India will soon be opening two new consulates in Kazan and in Yekaterinburg.

India-Iran talks

In his meeting with the new Iranian President, Mr. Modi discussed the Chabahar port, the North-South Transport Corridor and the situation in Afghanistan. “The Prime Minister expressed his deep concern over the escalating conflict and reiterated India’s call for the protection of civilians and emphasised the need for dialogue and diplomacy,” said Mr. Misri.

The BRICS summit in Kazan is the first occasion when the grouping will convene in its expanded shape that it acquired after the Johannesburg summit in 2023. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE were cleared to join BRICS in Johannesburg and the process of new members’ admission was completed on January 1, 2024.

The summit, which will be held on Wednesday, under the chairship of Russia has also drawn global attention as it is being interpreted as a sign of Russia’s leading position despite the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

Ahead of the BRICS summit, Mr. Putin hosted the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on October 21 in the presidential residence of Novo-Ogaryovo in Moscow where he had hosted Mr. Modi during the India-Russia annual summit in July.

Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the Russian President, said the Putin-Al Nahyan meeting was aimed at discussing “serious issues calmly”. Among other leaders who arrived in Kazan were Chinese President Xi Jinping, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko, Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Md Jashim Uddin, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, is also being hosted at Kazan.