PM Modi Gifts Russian Edition of Bhagavad Gita to President Putin: Strengthening India-Russia Diplomatic Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita during the Russian leader's two-day visit to India.

PM Modi shared this meaningful exchange on social media platform X, posting a photograph of the moment and noting that "the teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world."

The gift exchange followed PM Modi's warm welcome of President Putin at Delhi's Palam airport on Thursday evening. The two leaders shared a car ride from the airport to the Prime Minister's Lok Kalyan Marg residence, highlighting the strong strategic partnership between India and Russia.

This marks President Putin's first visit to India in four years, scheduled from December 4-5. During his stay, Putin will participate in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with PM Modi, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations.

Diplomatic experts have emphasized the importance of this visit. Former diplomat Arun Singh told ANI about the historical nature of the India-Russia partnership, noting that "there is a confidence in the relationship on both sides." He highlighted Russia's consistent political support for India in international forums, including the UN Security Council.

Singh also pointed to the significance of defense cooperation between the two nations, mentioning that during India's recent Operation Sindoor against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Russian-origin defense systems like the S-400 and BrahMos missiles performed exceptionally well.

Lydia Kulik, Head of India Studies at Moscow School of Management, described the visit as both "symbolic and a spectacle," noting that both countries are optimistic about future cooperation in trade and economy. She emphasized that opening the Russian market for Indian exporters is currently a priority.

Beyond economic matters, the leaders are expected to engage in political discussions, establish new defense and military cooperation agreements, and exchange frank perspectives on the current global situation.

The gifting of the Bhagavad Gita, one of India's most revered spiritual texts, represents the cultural dimension of this diplomatic engagement and the deep-rooted connections between the two nations.