Modi gifts hand-woven tapestry, DVD on LBA debates to Hasina

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina a rare audio clip of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's speech, a hand-woven tapestry, and the transcript and digital record of parliamentary debates on the historic Land Boundary Agreement.

"Presented a hand-woven tapestry from Venkatagiri, Andhra Pradesh woven in Jamdani style to PM Sheikh Hasina," Modi tweeted.

The tapestry, done by Nellore's national award winning artist and master craftsman Shri Gowrabathini Ramanaiah, has been woven using fine cotton yarn and pure gold thread, with both the warp and the weft having the same count of cotton yarn.

Located in Nellore district, Venkatagiri is famous for handlooms, and its weavers have adopted the fine 'jamdani' style while assimilating traditional designs of the region.

The 'jamdani' style is a well-known textile tradition in Bangladesh.

"Artwork in this tapestry shows Kalpavriksh tree & the Kamadhenu cow," Modi tweeted.

The tapestry, a form of textile art traditionally woven on a vertical loom, depicted a sacred Kalpavriksh tree and the Kamdhenu cow -- both regarded auspicious and bestower of prosperity as per Hindu mythology.

The Kalpavriksh, or the wish-fulfiling tree, is one of the nine jewels churned out of the primal ocean. It is one of the most pervasive motifs in Indian artistic creations.

The Kamadhenu or the sacred cow grants all wishes and desires.

Modi also presented Hasina a rare audio recording of Bangabandhu's speech in Kolkata in 1972, besides handing over the transcript and DVD of parliamentary debates on the historic Land Boundary Agreement sealed by the two sides on Saturday.

In a reciprocal gesture, Hasina presented Modi a photograph of the 1971 signing of 'Instrument of Surrender' after the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Modi, who arrived in Dhaka this morning on a two-day maiden visit, earlier tweeted, "Hello Bangladesh. I bring with me the affection & goodwill of the people of India."

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, transcript and DVD of parliamentary debates on LBA. Photograph: MEA