During his recent state visit to Cyprus, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did more than sign trade agreements — he stitched India’s identity into the diplomatic fabric through two exquisite handcrafted gifts. A Kashmiri silk carpet for President Nikos Christodoulides and a silver clutch for First Lady Philippa Karsera served as artistic ambassadors of India’s cultural soft power.
At first glance, the gifts may seem ceremonial, but their symbolism runs deeper. The red-toned Kashmiri carpet, famed for its dual-tone illusion and intricate vine motifs, is a direct nod to the mastery of Indian weavers — often passed down through generations. Crafted in Srinagar, it doesn’t just showcase a product; it embodies a cultural continuum.
Likewise, the silver clutch — crafted in Andhra Pradesh using the ancient repoussé technique — wasn’t just a beautiful object, but a deliberate bridge between history and modernity. Temple-inspired floral motifs paired with a semi-precious stone make it both contemporary and timeless, reflecting how India’s cultural soft power can seamlessly blend with global aesthetics.
These choices weren’t accidental. At a time when nations are leveraging identity and tradition as soft tools of influence, Modi’s gifts highlight how India is increasingly positioning its artisan heritage as a foreign policy asset.
This form of symbolic diplomacy unfolded alongside major economic announcements. A pact between the NSE and Cyprus Stock Exchange, and a collaboration between Gujarat’s GIFT City and the Cyprus bourse, may have made the headlines. Yet, in the margins of statecraft, the curated gifts quietly amplified India’s diplomatic tone — personal, respectful, and rooted in legacy.
For India, projecting power is no longer just about hard economics or military strategy. It’s also about narratives. The deliberate inclusion of traditional Indian crafts in high-level diplomacy exemplifies a shift toward nation-branding via heritage.
In gifting, India gave more than goods — it gave a story, an identity, and a statement of intent. As global diplomacy evolves, such artefacts become part of a larger mosaic in which India’s cultural soft power is emerging not just as a feature, but a force.
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