Narendra Modi presented a selection of Indian artisanal and agricultural gifts to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his recent visit to Abu Dhabi, highlighting India’s regional craft traditions and design heritage. The gifts formed part of Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour and emphasized cultural exchange alongside political and economic cooperation.
Among the most notable pieces was a Rogan painting featuring the Tree of Life motif, a design strongly associated with the traditional textile art practices of Kutch in Gujarat. In addition, the Indian Prime Minister gifted GI-tagged Kesar mangoes from Junagadh and pineapples from Meghalaya, combining craft heritage with regionally distinctive agricultural products.
The diplomatic exchange reflected how handcrafted design objects increasingly function as instruments of cultural storytelling within international relations. Consequently, the gifts highlighted India’s emphasis on presenting local craftsmanship and regional identity through material culture.
Rogan Painting Highlights India’s Textile and Craft Heritage
The Rogan painting gifted to the UAE President draws from one of India’s rarest textile art traditions. Practiced primarily in Gujarat’s Kutch region, Rogan art involves applying hand-drawn patterns using thick oil-based pigment on fabric. The process combines precision, symmetry, and freehand technique, creating highly detailed ornamental compositions.
According to descriptions surrounding the diplomatic gift, the Tree of Life motif symbolises interconnectedness, continuity, renewal, and balance between heritage and progress. Moreover, the motif carries strong visual associations with growth and resilience, themes frequently referenced in traditional South Asian decorative arts.
Rogan painting has gained renewed international attention over the last decade through museum exhibitions, state gifts, and design collaborations. Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi previously presented Rogan artworks to international leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The craft itself remains closely connected to artisan families in Kutch, particularly within communities preserving the practice across generations. Therefore, the diplomatic presentation also spotlighted the role of handmade design traditions within India’s broader cultural diplomacy strategy.
Regional Produce and Handcrafted Objects Strengthen Cultural Diplomacy
Alongside the Rogan artwork, Modi presented Kesar mangoes, often referred to as the “Queen of Mangoes” because of their saffron-coloured pulp and strong aroma. The GI-tagged fruit originates from Gujarat’s Junagadh region and remains closely associated with regional culinary identity and hospitality traditions.
The Meghalaya pineapples included in the gift selection further expanded the representation of India’s regional diversity. Known for high sweetness and low acidity, the fruit has become internationally recognised as a premium agricultural product from Northeast India.
“Kesar mangoes to Maheshwari silk, what India’s Modi gifted UAE Royals during visit.”
The presentation of handcrafted and regionally specific gifts also coincided with broader discussions between India and the UAE on trade, infrastructure, defence, and technology partnerships during Modi’s Abu Dhabi visit. As a result, the exchange reinforced how art, craft, and design continue to operate alongside diplomacy in shaping cultural relationships between the two countries.