Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over a copy of the Bhagvad Gita in Russian to President Vladimir Putin, who is on a two-day visit to India.
In a post on X, PM Modi shared a photo of the moment describing the font as a source of inspiration for millions of people around the world.
“He presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita are an inspiration to millions of people around the world,” PM Modi said.
This comes after Prime Minister Modi gave a warm welcome to the Russian President at Delhi’s Palam Airport on Thursday evening.
The two leaders also shared a car ride from the airport to the Prime Minister’s Lok Kalyan Marg residence, highlighting the strategic partnership and close relationship between the two leaders.
Putin, who is on his first visit to India in four years, will be in Delhi till December 5. During his visit, the Russian President will also hold the 23rd annual India-Russia Summit with Prime Minister Modi.
Experts also weighed in on the significance of Putin’s trip, which is expected to boost cooperation in defense, trade, science and technology, culture and humanitarian affairs.
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Former diplomat Arun Singh told ANI about the importance of the India-Russia partnership and outlined the political and defense support that Moscow has provided to New Delhi over the years.
“It is an important visit. I had the opportunity to serve twice in Moscow. I served in the Soviet Union and then in the 1990s in the Russian Federation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. And I felt that the partnership was historic in nature,” he said.
“There is confidence in the relationship on both sides. Russia is remembered in India as an important partner who provided the political support we needed from time to time, including the UN Security Council,” he added.
Citing the example of Operation Sindoor, India’s military action against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, Arun Singh pointed to the role of Russia’s defense arsenal.
“And she also shared with us defense items that we needed again, which was very important. If you saw in Operation Sindoor, among the weapon systems that did very well were the S-400 and the BrahMos missile, which are part of the Russian partnership,” he said.
In addition, Lydia Kulik, head of Indian studies at the Moscow School of Management, said the visit is “symbolic as well as a spectacle” as both countries look positively to their future in terms of trade and economic cooperation.
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“This visit is very important because it is taking place after quite a long time and it follows the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Russia in 2024, when both countries set new agendas in a new environment. This visit is both symbolic and spectacular,” she said.
“India and Russia look very positively at their future in the field of trade and economy. The priority at the moment is the opening of the Russian market for Indian exporters. In addition to trade and economy, there will be political discussions, new agreements in defense and military cooperation and an open exchange of views on the current situation in the world,” she added.
