Deepening cultural and civilisational ties between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented carefully chosen Indian artefacts to the President and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan during his recent visit.
The gifts, rich in historical and artistic significance, were offered to President Sadyr Japarov and PM Adylbek Kasymaliev, highlighting parallels in the two countries’ epic traditions, pastoral lifestyles and folk arts.
To President Japarov, PM Modi gifted Bibek Debroy’s acclaimed 10-volume English translation of the Mahabharata- a complete, unabridged edition of the epic traditionally attributed to Ved Vyasa.
The gift, however, encompasses the narrative of the Pandavas and Kauravas along with philosophical reflections, genealogies and subsidiary stories.
As a cornerstone of India’s literary and cultural heritage, the Mahabharata explores enduring themes of dharma, duty, justice and statecraft, and continues to influence Indian literature and the arts.
The gift carries special resonance as the Mahabharata shares a cultural kinship with Kyrgyzstan’s own ‘Epic of Manas’, both works preserving stories and collective memory across generations.
President Japarov received a traditional Ladakhi Tsug-dul blanket, a woollen textile known for its vibrant colours and intricate motifs, woven from locally sourced wool and reflecting Ladakh’s pastoral, nomadic way of life.
The gift echoes Kyrgyzstan’s own nomadic traditions shaped by mountainous landscapes and wool-based textile practices.
Prime Minister Kasymaliev received a Dokra artwork depicting a pair of traditional musicians, showcasing India’s ancient metal-casting heritage.
Crafted through the lost-wax technique, each handcrafted figure celebrates music’s enduring role in preserving cultural identity — resonating with Kyrgyzstan’s own rich folk music traditions. These gifts go beyond ceremonial exchange, reaffirming India’s commitment to cultural diplomacy.
By choosing objects reflecting shared experiences of epic narrative, mountain pastoralism and folk performance, PM Modi and the Kyrgyz leadership have, however, shown how common heritage can strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two nations.
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