Silver train replica for Joe, Pashmina for Jill

NEW DELHI: An antique silver hand-engraved train model, signifying linkages between India and the US, was gifted by PM Modi to President Joe Biden when they met Saturday.
The PM gifted a Pashmina shawl from J&K to First Lady Jill Biden.
Sources in the Prime Minister's Office said the vintage silver hand-engraved train model is a rare and extraordinary piece, masterfully crafted by artisans from Maharashtra.
Made of 92.5% silver, the model showcases the pinnacle of Indian metalworking artistry, with elaborate details achieved through traditional techniques such as engraving, repousse (hammering from the reverse to create raised designs), and intricate filigree work.
"This creation is a tribute to the steam locomotive era, with artistic brilliance merging with historical significance," a functionary said.
He said signifying the robust linkages between India and the US, the model has been customised by inscribing 'Delhi-Delaware' on the sides of the main carriage and 'Indian Railways' on the sides of the engine in English and Hindi, based on the standard format used on passenger trains in India.
This masterpiece not only highlights the artisan's exceptional skill but also serves as a glowing testimony to the long history of Indian railways and its global influences.
Biden welcomed the leaders of Australia, India, and Japan to his home in Wilmington, Delaware, aiming to solidify the alliance among the US and Indo-Pacific nations during his fourth and final 'Quad Summit'.
The story of the Pashmina shawls, one gifted to the first lady by the PM, begins with the Changthangi goat, native to the high-altitude areas of Ladakh.
Its winter coat, known as Pashm, is the soul of the shawl. This excellent and soft fibre is hand-combed. Skilled artisans spin the Pashm into yarn, often by hand using traditional techniques.