Sweden gifts PM Modi replicas of Tagore's handwritten epigrams found in the Swedish National Archives
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and PM Narendra Modi exchanged gifts honouring Rabindranath Tagore during the PM's visit to Sweden on 17 May 2026, marking the centenary of Tagore's 1926 visit to Sweden.
Summary
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi with replicas of two handwritten epigrams by Rabindranath Tagore and a photograph of Tagore taken in 1921 at Uppsala University, during the PM's visit to Sweden on 17 May 2026. The originals were recently discovered in the Swedish National Archives and were written by Tagore during his visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926. PM Modi gave a set of Tagore's collected works and a handcrafted bag from Shantiniketan. PIB notes that Tagore could not travel to Sweden in 1913 to receive the Nobel Prize but was received by King Gustav V in 1921, and that the exchange coincides with the centenary of the 1926 visit.
Key facts
- Gift from Sweden
- Replicas of two handwritten Tagore epigrams + 1921 Uppsala University photo
- Originals found in
- Swedish National Archives
- Tagore's Sweden visits
- 1921 and 1926
- Gift from India
- Tagore's collected works and a Shantiniketan bag
- Nobel
- Tagore could not travel in 1913; received by King Gustav V in 1921
- Occasion
- Centenary of the 1926 visit
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The original Tagore epigrams whose replicas Sweden gifted to PM Modi in May 2026 were written during Tagore's visits to Sweden in which years?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — 1921 and 1926
The originals, recently found in the Swedish National Archives, were created during Tagore's visits to Sweden in 1921 and 1926.
The India–Sweden gift exchange of May 2026 coincided with the centenary of Rabindranath Tagore's:
Show answer
Correct answer: C — historic visit to Sweden in 1926
PIB says the exchange coincides with the centenary of Tagore's historic visit to Sweden in 1926.