Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented French President Emmanuel Macron with a handcrafted Kalamkari Mahabharata painting and gifted French First Lady Brigitte Macron a Pochampally silk stole during his official visit to France this week, as part of a two-nation tour that also included Slovakia. The gifts, rooted in centuries-old Indian craft traditions, were chosen to reflect shared values of artistry, culture, and civilisational dialogue.

The Gifts and Their Significance

The Kalamkari painting, sourced from Andhra Pradesh, took nearly six months to complete and was crafted using traditional pen-drawing techniques. It depicts scenes from the Mahabharata — the ancient Indian epic centred on themes of duty, justice, courage, and moral choice — with the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita placed at its heart, portraying Lord Krishna guiding Arjuna toward responsibility and inner strength.

The Pochampally silk stole gifted to Brigitte Macron is a handwoven textile from Telangana, crafted using the traditional Ikat resist-dyeing technique. Renowned for its intricate geometric and floral patterns, the stole was seen as a deliberate gesture toward France's deep appreciation for fashion, artisanal craft, and design excellence.

Key Engagements in France

Modi's France leg was among the most packed of his recent diplomatic schedules. After arriving in Nice on 13 June, he and Macron jointly inaugurated the 'Bharat Innovates' event and held bilateral talks, following which the two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Modi wrote on X that the talks covered defence, technology, space, security, counter-terrorism, and innovation.

On Tuesday, Modi travelled to Evian to attend the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, where he met several world leaders on the sidelines, including US President Donald Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

From Evian, Modi proceeded to Paris, where he and Macron participated in VivaTech 2026 on Thursday. He also held separate meetings with top corporate leaders including Alstom CEO Martin Sion, Saint-Gobain CEO Benoit Bazin, and Mistral AI CEO Arthur Mensch, and addressed members of the Indian community in France.

Macron's Hindi Farewell

In an unusual diplomatic gesture, President Macron recorded a farewell video message in Hindi for Modi as the visit concluded. 'Dear friend Narendra, I am very happy that you are in Nice, Evian, or Paris. I am very happy to welcome you here. The friendship between India and France is immortal,' Macron said in Hindi, before switching to English.

'My dear Narendra, dear Prime Minister, I wanted to thank you so much for your friendship... France loves you... I will come to visit you next February, but you are my true friend... We love you. Take care,' Macron concluded.

Slovakia Visit and Broader Tour

Before his Paris engagements, Modi had visited Slovakia for a two-day State Visit, where he held talks with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini. The two-nation tour underscores India's active diplomatic push across Europe at a time of shifting global alliances and renewed interest in strategic partnerships.

With Macron confirming a return visit to India in February, the India-France relationship appears set for a new phase of deepened engagement across defence, technology, and culture.