Indian PM presents Japanese counterpart with unique traditional products from Gujarat, UP & Rajasthan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries specially crafted on the occasion of his visit to Japan for India-Japan annual summit on October 28.

Made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan, the bowls were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Khambhat region of Gujarat, that has been known for its practice of stone craft since generations and is also a leading hub for exports of stone products from India.

The uniqueness of this craft lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone, and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines.


Hand-woven by the master weavers of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, the dhurrie designs show the diversity of possibilities available; from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another. The dhurries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes; while one uses Indigo blues, reds and sprinkles of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries, the other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape.

These stone bowls and dhurries were made under the design supervision of India’s premier design institute, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Further, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, is working towards the upliftment of the stone craft cluster of Khambhat by bringing in design and technological interventions.

In addition, a Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented.