PM Modi's cultural diplomacy: Gifts for Croatian leadership
On June 18, 2025, PM Narendra Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Croatia.
He marked the occasion by gifting a traditional Pattachitra painting from Odisha and a silver candle stand from Rajasthan—both highlighting India's artistic roots and friendly intentions.
The gesture was all about celebrating culture while building stronger bridges between the two countries.
A thoughtful exchange
The Pattachitra painting, known for its detailed mythological art on cloth, went to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic.
The ornate candle stand—crafted using age-old Rajasthani techniques—was given to PM Andrej Plenkovic.
In a thoughtful exchange, Plenkovic gifted Modi a rare reprint of an 18th-century Sanskrit grammar book by Croatian scholar Filip Vezdin.
Talks on clean energy, agriculture
Beyond the gifts, both leaders sat down for talks focused on teaming up in areas like tech, clean energy, agriculture, and more.
They signed four agreements aimed at boosting trade and innovation—a sign that this visit was about much more than just tradition.