In this image posted on May 17, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson exchange special gifts commemorating Rabindranath Tagore and the enduring civilisational and intellectual ties between India and Sweden in the presence of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, in Gothenburg, Sweden. | Photo Credit: Via PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson on Sunday exchanged special commemorative gifts to celebrate the legacy of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.

Prime Minister Kristersson gifted a box containing two replicas of hand-written epigrams by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, accompanied by a small explanatory text and a photograph of Gurudev Tagore taken in 1921 during his visit to Uppsala University, according to a statement.

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

Prime Minister Modi presented a set of collected works of Rabindranath Tagore, along with a specially handcrafted bag from Shantiniketan with motifs that Gurudev chose to empower local artisans, it said.

The bag symbolises Tagore’s philosophy that art is not meant to be confined to galleries, but to breathe life into everyday objects, bridging the gap between the intellectual and the functional.

Tagore, the first non-European Nobel Laureate, was unable to travel to Sweden in 1913 to receive the Nobel Prize. He was later received by King Gustav V during his visit to Sweden in 1921.

These gifts symbolise the shared cultural and intellectual heritage between India and Sweden, and pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. The exchange of gifts also coincides with the centenary of Gurudev’s historic visit to Sweden in 1926, the statement said.

Modi arrived in Sweden on Sunday for a two-day visit. He was received by his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson, at the Gothenburg Airport.

Published on May 18, 2026