PM Modi gifts silver train model to Joe Biden, Pashmina to Jill: Here is why

Crafted by artisans from Maharashtra, this vintage silver hand-engraved train model is made of 92.5% silver.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted an antique silver hand-engraved train model to US President Joe Biden and a Pashmina shawl in a papier-mâché box to US First Lady Jill Biden.

PM Modi, who is on a three-day trip to the US, met Biden in his hometown Wilmington, Delaware, ahead of the Quad Leaders' Summit. Apart from commemorating the diplomatic ties between the countries, the gifts also held other significance.

Crafted by artisans from Maharashtra, this vintage silver hand-engraved train model is made of 92.5% silver. The model also showcases the pinnacle of Indian metalworking artistry, with elaborate details achieved through traditional techniques such as engraving, repoussé (hammering from the reverse to create raised designs), and intricate filigree work. This is a tribute to the steam locomotive era.

The piece also highlights the importance of ties between India and the US, with a sign on the model inscribed with “Delhi-Delaware” on the sides of the engine. The Quad leaders’ summit was held in Delaware, the hometown of President Joe Biden.

Also, Biden has previously shared his love for trains. “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,” Biden wrote on Instagram in 2020 as quoted by Firstpost.

Known for its exceptional softness and fineness, the pashmina shawl is made of wool from Changthangi goats which live in the high altitudes of Ladakh. The fibre is known for its exceptional softness and the shawls are passed down through the generations as heirlooms. The vibrant colours of the shawls are derived from natural dyes sourced from plants and minerals. Hand-combed and spun by skilled artisans using time-honoured techniques, these shawls bring out Jammu and Kashmir’s rich and fine legacy of handcraft.

Pashmina shawls traditionally come packed in papier mache boxes. These boxes are handmade using a mixture of paper pulp, glue, and other natural materials. The boxes are also a work of art by themselves.

A joint statement issued after the bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Biden said the India-US partnership is "decisively delivering on an ambitious agenda that serves the global good", calling it the "defining partnership of the 21st century".