Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Modi's gifts for Biden: Ganesh in a sandalwood box and Yeats translation of ancient Indian text

Indian officials reveal how the gifts reflect India’s respect for experience…

Modi's gifts for Biden: Ganesh in a sandalwood box and Yeats translation of ancient Indian text

PRIME minister Narendra Modi gave Joe Biden a special sandalwood box with a carved silver idol of Lord Ganesha as he met the US president on the first day of his state visit in Washington DC yesterday (21).

Sourced from Mysuru in the south Indian state of Karnataka, the box features intricately carved flora and fauna patterns handcrafted by an expert from Jaipur.

Modi was hosted by the president and his wife Jill during an intimate dinner at the White House on Wednesday (21).

The box contains the idol of Ganesha, who Hindus worship as a destroyer of obstacles; its silver form was crafted by a family of fifth-generation silversmiths of Kolkata, officials said.

According to an ancient Indian text, an individual becomes ‘Drishta Sahasrachandro' or the one who has seen one thousand full moons when he completes the age of 80 years and eight months, a milestone Biden will reach next month.

“The life spanning one thousand full moons is considered to be an important milestone in the Hindu way of life. The gap between two full moons is about 29.53 days, so the time span covered by a thousand full moons would be approximately 29,530 days or 80 years and 8 months,” a press note said.

Modi and Bidens 1 scaled Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Joe Biden and First lady Jill Biden during a private dinner at the White House, in Washington, USA, on June 21, 2023. (PTI Photo)


Modi's gift reflects the traditional respect associated with a person's experience, officials said.

Another gift to Biden was a tribute to the US president's admiration for Irish poet William Butler Yeats.

Biden often quotes poetry from Yeats and made references to his writings and poetry in his public speeches, officials said.

Yeats also had a deep admiration for India and was influenced by Indian spirituality.

His friendship and admiration for Nobel Prize winning author Rabindranath Tagore is known and the poet also helped popularise Tagore’s Gitanjali in the Western world, officials said, adding Yeats' admiration for Indian spirituality ran deep and he was influenced by the Upanishads and other ancient knowledge streams of India.

In 1937, Yeats published an English translation of the Indian Upanishads, co-authored with Shri Purohit Swami. The translation and collaboration between the two authors took place in the 1930s and it was one of the final works of Yeats.

A copy of the first edition print of this book, ‘The Ten Principal Upanishads', published by M/s Faber and Faber Ltd of London and printed at the University Press Glasgow was gifted to Biden, officials said.

Modi also gifted a 7.5-carat lab-grown green diamond to First Lady Jill Biden.

Biden presented a handmade, antique American book galley from the early 20th century as the official gift to Modi.

He also received a gift of a vintage American camera, accompanied by an archival facsimile print of George Eastman's Patent of the first Kodak camera; a hardcover book on American wildlife photography and a signed, first edition copy of 'Collected Poems of Robert Frost'.

More For You

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Diwali

This year’s Diwali event will still see Belgrave Road continue to host what is left of the festival. (Representational image)

Major changes announced for Leicester’s Diwali celebrations amid safety fears

LDRS

THIS year’s annual Diwali celebrations will be stripped back amid public safety fears. Leicester City Council has said there will be no fireworks or stage entertainment as part of major changes announced for the event.

Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also not be used for the festivities, the council has revealed. The green space previously was the location for the main stage and the Diwali Village with its food stalls, funfair rides, fashion and arts. The annual fire garden display was also based there, offering “a peaceful oasis amid the festive excitement”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Corbyn- Zarah Sultana

Zarah Sultana with Jeremy Corbyn during a protest outside Downing Street demanding the UK government to stop all arms sales to Israel. (Photo: X/@zarahsultana)

X/@zarahsultana

Zarah Sultana leaves Labour, plans new party with Corbyn and independents

FORMER Labour MP Zarah Sultana has announced her resignation from the party and plans to launch a new political party alongside ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other independent MPs and activists.

Sultana, who represents Coventry South, lost the Labour whip last year for supporting the removal of the two-child benefit cap.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hasmukh Shah

The certificate was presented to Shah at the Welsh parliament by Anita Bailey, Home Office Director Windrush Unit.

Hasmukh Shah receives UK minister’s certificate of appreciation

A prominent Asian doctor has been recognised for his services to the community. Prof Hasmukh Shah has received a certificate of appreciation for his contribution and services to the United Kingdom.

The certificate was issued by Seema Malhotra MP, UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, as part of the Windrush Cymru Elders and Race Council Cymru’s Windrush work in Wales.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai-Lama-Getty

Dalai Lama looks on as offerings presented by Buddhist followers are laid on a table during a Long Life Prayer offering ceremony at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj, near Dharamsala, India, on June 30, 2025.(Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

India says Dalai Lama alone can decide successor

A SENIOR Indian minister has said that only the Dalai Lama and the organisation he has established have the authority to decide his successor as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. The comment runs contrary to China’s long-standing position on the matter.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule, said on Wednesday that after his death he would be reincarnated as the next spiritual leader, and that only the Gaden Phodrang Trust would be able to identify his successor. He had earlier said that the next Dalai Lama would be born outside China.

Keep ReadingShow less