From a silver filigree sailboat for Norway’s King to a marble inlay box carrying recordings of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi and MS Subbulakshmi for Italy’s President, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used traditional Indian art, textiles and literature as instruments of cultural diplomacy during meetings with world leaders this week.The carefully curated gifts drew heavily from India’s regional crafts and carried symbolic links with the recipient nations, blending heritage with storytelling.Among the standout gifts was an intricate Tarakasi silver sailboat presented to Norway’s King. Crafted in Odisha’s famed silver filigree tradition, the artwork celebrated both India’s maritime history and Norway’s seafaring legacy shaped by Viking exploration. The gift also referenced King Harald V’s lifelong association with sailing.The Italy’s President received a finely crafted marble inlay work box from Agra inspired by the Pietra Dura tradition, which traces its roots to Florence before flourishing in India during the Mughal era. Inside were music compilations of Pt Joshi and Subbulakshmi, linking Italian artistic heritage with India’s classical music traditions.For the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the gifts included a Shirui Lily silk stole from Manipur and Assam’s famed Muga silk, often called “golden silk” for its natural sheen and durability. Officials highlighted how both gifts reflected shared Indian and Italian appreciation for luxury textiles and craftsmanship.Prime Minister Narendra Modi (unseen) gifted a Shirui Lily silk stole to Italy PM Giorgia Meloni. ANIA Madhubani painting with a fish motif gifted to the Dutch PM emerged as another conversation piece. The artwork symbolised harmony, fertility and ecological balance, while also drawing parallels with the Netherlands’ water conservation and aquatic restoration efforts. The Dutch King received Jaipur’s iconic blue pottery, a craft that subtly echoed the Netherlands’ own Delft Blue ceramic tradition.The Prime Minister’s gifts to Nordic leaders also focused strongly on sustainability, nature and indigenous craftsmanship. Norway’s Prime Minister was presented pressed orchid artwork and paperweights made from flowers sourced from Sikkim’s Himalayan valleys, while the Norwegian Crown Prince received a Kalamkari painting featuring sun and moon motifs symbolising cosmic balance.Sweden’s leadership received a collection deeply rooted in Bengal and Himalayan traditions. The Swedish Prime Minister was gifted works of Rabindranath Tagore along with a Shantiniketan leather messenger bag, while Crown Princess Victoria received a Gond painting and a copy of the Prime Minister’s book “Convenient Action: Continuity for Change”.In another notable gesture, Iceland’s Prime Minister was presented a replica of the ice axe used by Tenzing Norgay during the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, symbolising endurance, exploration and resilience.Food diplomacy also featured prominently. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) received millet bars and curated samples of indigenous Indian grains, including Kalanamak rice from Uttar Pradesh, Gobindobhog rice from West Bengal and Joha rice from Assam, highlighting India’s push for climate-resilient and traditional crops.The gifts collectively showcased India’s attempt to blend diplomacy with soft power, using regional crafts, literature, textiles and culinary heritage to build cultural connections with partner nations.