Where Is The 7.5 Carat Diamond And Sandalwood Box PM Modi Gifted To POTUS From?

by Vaishalee Kalvankar
Where Is The 7.5 Carat Diamond And Sandalwood Box PM Modi Gifted To POTUS From?

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on his first state visit to the United States. It is a three-day state visit, and he arrived at the White House in Washington, DC. PM Modi attended a private event at the White House where the Bidens hosted their guests for an intimate supper. The three exchanged official gifts, and Modi presented them with gifts that included a 7.5 carat diamond and a sandalwood box. 

Deets About 7.5 Carat Diamond And Sandalwood Box Gifted By PM Modi

sandalwood
credits: @LalitenduBJP?/Twitter

PM Modi gave Biden a beautiful sandalwood box that was handcrafted by a master craftsman from Jaipur. The sandalwood used to make this box was from Mysore, Karnataka. The Lord Ganesha idol and a Diya (oil light) in the box were made by a fifth-generation family of silversmiths from Kolkata.

PM Modi
credits: @LalitenduBJP?/Twitter

As the President will soon turn 81, the box also included ‘Das Danam’. When a person reaches the age of 80 years and eight months and reaches the status of “Drishta Sahasra Chandra,” or the person who has witnessed 1,000 full moons, “Das Danam” refers to the 10 donations given. 

A copy of the first edition print of the book “The Ten Principal Upanishads” by London’s Faber and Faber Ltd. (As per NDTV)

diamond
credits: @LalitenduBJP?/Twitter

Along with the kar-e-kalamdani box made of paper mâché, he also gave First Lady Jill Biden a 7.5-carat lab-grown diamond that replicates the chemical and optical characteristics of earth-mined diamonds. The diamond is also known as an eco-friendly green diamond, as it is crafted using solar and wind power. 

Also Read: PM Modi’s US State Dinner: From Millet-Based Dishes To Peacock Theme, Here’s A Sneak Peak

The First Couple Presented Book Gallery, Camera And More

An authentic gift was given to PM Narendra Modi by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in the form of a handcrafted, ancient American book galley from the early 20th century.

The first couple also presented a vintage American camera, a hardcover book on American wildlife photography, a signed first edition copy of “Collected Poems of Robert Frost,” and an archival facsimile print of George Eastman’s patent for the first Kodak camera, according to the White House.

Also Read: Karnataka Bandh: What’s Open, What’s Closed, And Why The Bandh? Details Inside

What do you think of these gifts?

Cover Image Courtesy: @Lalitendu/Twitter

First Published: June 22, 2023 6:05 PM