Sweden PM gifts Modi facsimile of Tagore’s handwritten poems

Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Sunday gifted to his visiting Indian counterpart Narendra Modi a facsimile of two handwritten poems by Rabindranath Tagore recently found in the National Archives of that country.

"Had the honour of presenting a facsimile of two handwritten poems by the influential Indian author Rabindranath Tagore to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Kristersson said in a post on X.

The poems of Tagore, who visited Sweden in 1921 and 1926, "were found in the National Archives and bear witness to the long-standing relations between Sweden and India," the Swedish PM said.

The poems were among the special gifts Modi and Kristersson exchanged to celebrate the legacy of Tagore who won the Nobel in 1913. He was the first non-European to get the honour.

"The gift from Kristersson comprised a box containing two replicas of handwritten epigrams by Tagore, accompanied by a small explanatory text and a photograph of the poet taken in 1921 during his visit to Uppsala University," said a statement issued in New Delhi by the Indian PM's office.

Receiving the gift from the Swedish leader, Modi wrote in a separate post "deeply touched to receive facsimiles of two handwritten epigrams by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. I thank the government and people of Sweden for this thoughtful gesture which reflects the enduring cultural bonds between our nations."

He said Tagore's "words continue to illuminate minds across generations and geographies. His vision of human dignity, knowledge and brotherhood remains timeless." 

The originals of the epigrams, recently discovered in the Swedish National Archives, were created by Tagore during his visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.

Modi presented Kristersson with a set of collected works of Tagore and a specially handcrafted bag from Santiniketan with motifs the poet chose to empower local artisans.

"The bag symbolises Tagore's philosophy that art is not meant to be confined to galleries but to breathe life into everyday objects," said the statement.

Although Tagore could not travel to Sweden in 1913 to receive the Nobel Prize, he was received by King Gustav V when he visited Sweden in 1921.

Modi was welcomed to Gothenburg in traditional Bengali style, prompting him to write on his X that "Bengali culture is popular world over and Sweden is no exception."

During the community welcome in Gothenburg when Kristersson was also present, a glimpse of the glorious Bengali culture was on display, Modi's post said.