New Delhi, May 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visits to Italy, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries were not just about diplomacy and economic agreements. These trips showcased India’s rich cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship, and unique agricultural products on a global stage. He presented foreign leaders with special gifts, including Assam’s ‘Muga Silk Shawl’, Gujarat’s ‘Rogan Painting’, and Bihar’s ‘Mithila Painting’. Each of these products represents the heritage of its respective region.
During these visits, the Prime Minister gifted GI-tagged (Geographical Indication) Indian products to heads of state, symbolizing the hard work of local artisans and farmers under the ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) scheme. This initiative further solidified India’s cultural presence on the world map. Products like Agra’s intricate marble inlay, Muga silk, Bihar’s Madhubani painting, blue pottery, Rogan art, Koftagari knives, saffron mangoes, Meghalaya pineapples, and Mithila fox nuts captured the attention of international leaders.
India boasts over 600 GI-tagged products, encompassing agricultural goods, handicrafts, food items, and artisanal crafts. PM Modi presented a marble box adorned with Agra’s inlay work, a Muga silk shawl, and a Shiroi lily silk shawl to Italy’s Prime Minister. In the Netherlands, he showcased Jaipur’s blue pottery, Meenakari-Kundan earrings, and Mithila paintings. In the UAE, he gifted Rogan paintings (Tree of Life) along with Koftagari knives and Mithila fox nuts.
India’s true strength lies in its diversity. From Kashmir’s saffron to Bihar’s fox nuts, Banaras’ sarees to Kutch’s Rogan art, these products are not mere commodities; they embody the soil, labor, and enduring traditions of India. Indeed, GI tags have become a significant means of elevating Indian products in the global market.
GI tags provide legal protection, ensuring that only authentic producers from a specific region can use the product’s name. They enhance the income of farmers and local artisans, protect against counterfeit products, preserve cultural heritage, and strengthen the rural economy.
These GI tags reflect India’s diversity. The GI-tagged products from Uttar Pradesh are not just food items; they also represent the state’s rich culture, traditions, and local craftsmanship. The Dasheri mango from Malihabad, Langra mango from Varanasi, Banarasi paan, and the famous guava from Prayagraj are renowned for their unique flavors. Similarly, Mahoba’s Desawari paan, Muzaffarnagar’s jaggery, Hathras’ asafoetida, and Pratapgarh’s amla, along with Lucknow’s chicken embroidery, Kanpur leather, Agra’s inlay work, Lucknow shoes, Mathura’s peda, and Azamgarh’s carpets are favored for their quality and distinct identity.
Bihar’s traditional cuisine and agricultural products have also received GI tags for global recognition. Notable items include the famous Silav Khaja from Nalanda district, a 52-layer flaky sweet, Muzaffarpur’s royal lychee, the nutritious Mithila fox nut from the Mithila region, the aromatic Magahi paan from the Magadh area, the delicious Jardalu mango from Bhagalpur, fragrant Katarni rice from Bhagalpur, and the small-grained aromatic Marcha rice from West Champaran.
Karnataka’s GI-tagged products include Mysore silk, Coorg coffee, Byadgi chili, Nanjangud banana, Udupi Mattu Gulla brinjal, Mysore paan, Devanahalli pomelo, Dharwad peda, Navalgund durry, and Ilkal sarees. Kerala’s offerings include Palakkad Matta rice, Pokkali rice, Wayanad Jeeraksel rice, Coorg oranges, Vazhakkulam pineapple, Marayoor jaggery, Tirur areca nut, Nilambur teak, and Ethomozhi coconut.
Tamil Nadu‘s GI-tagged products encompass Kanchipuram silk, Madurai jasmine, Erode turmeric, Kodaikanal cream potato, Palani Panchamirtham, Srivilliputhur Palkova, Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai, Nilgiri tea, Virupakshi hill banana, and Thanjavur paintings, alongside Andhra Pradesh‘s Tirupati laddu, Guntur chili, Banganapalle mango, and Kondapalli toys.
Telangana’s offerings include Hyderabadi Haleem, Pochampally Ikat, Narayanpet sarees, Warangal durry, Cherial scroll painting, Telangana tamarind, and Nizamabad black pottery. Jharkhand’s GI-tagged products feature Sohrai and Kohbar paintings, Jardalu mango, Dokra art, Tassar silk, tribal bamboo crafts, and Kodo millet products.
Assam’s GI-tagged products include Muga silk, Joha rice, and Tezpur lychee, while Gujarat is known for Kutch Rogan art, Patola sarees, Surti paan, and saffron mangoes. Rajasthan contributes blue pottery, Koftagari, Bandhej, Jhalawar mangoes, and Jammu and Kashmir is recognized for saffron, Pashmina shawls, and Basmati rice. West Bengal is celebrated for Darjeeling tea, Santiniketan chadar, and Bengal rasgulla, while Maharashtra is famous for Alphonso mangoes, Kolhapuri chappals, and Pawan Khandi jaggery, along with Odisha’s Kanjivaram silk, rasgulla, and Odisha paan.
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