PM Modi Gifts Russian Edition Of Bhagavad Gita To Putin

written by Gaurav Sharma Thu Dec 04, 8:57 pm Source

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

Published: Friday, December 5, 2025, 7:27 [IST]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita during the Russian leader's two-day visit to India, underlining the cultural side of the India-Russia partnership as both governments discuss defence, trade, technology and wider geopolitical coordination in New Delhi till December 5.

Sharing a photo of the exchange on X, PM Modi calls the Hindu scripture a global guide. "Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world," PM Modi said. The gift signals shared interest in spiritual and cultural links alongside strategic talks.

During President Vladimir Putin's visit to India from December 4-5, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita, and the leaders discussed defense, trade, technology, and geopolitical cooperation at the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in New Delhi.

India-Russia partnership visit highlights and key schedule

Putin arrives in India on December 4, marking the first visit in four years, and remains in New Delhi till December 5. During the trip, Putin and PM Modi are set to hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where cooperation agendas across defence, economics and science feature prominently.

Both leaders travel together from Palam airport to the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, sharing a car ride that showcases the personal rapport between the two. Welcomed my friend, President Putin to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/2L7AZ1WIph— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025

Event	Date	Location
Putin arrives in India	December 4, 2025	Palam airport, Delhi
Car ride to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg	December 4, 2025	New Delhi
23rd India-Russia Annual Summit	December 4–5, 2025	New Delhi

India-Russia partnership messages and public signals

PM Modi posts several messages on X, stressing continuity in India-Russia ties. One post reads, "Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people."

The same post is repeated in full within the thread, together with a video and tag to the Kremlin account, underscoring the public nature of the outreach. Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.

Another post carries the image of the Bhagavad Gita being handed to Putin, with the same line repeated alongside the photograph. Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world.

Former diplomat Arun Singh explains how the India-Russia partnership has grown over decades across different political phases in Moscow. "This is an important visit. I have had occasion to serve twice in Moscow. I served at the time of the Soviet Union and then in the 1990s in the Russian Federation after dissolution of the Soviet Union. And I could sense that there is a historical nature to the partnership," he said.

India-Russia partnership in defence, politics and trade

Arun Singh notes that New Delhi remembers the diplomatic backing it has received. "There is a confidence in the relationship on both sides. In India, there is a memory of Russia being an important partner which has provided political support that we've needed from time to time, including at the UN Security Council," he added.

Singh cites Operation Sindoor, India's military response against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack in April, to highlight the defence side of the India-Russia partnership. "And it has also shared with us defence items that we've needed, again, which has been very important. If you saw in Operation Sindoor, among the weapons systems that did very well were the S-400 and the BrahMos missile, which are part of the Russia partnership," he said.

Lydia Kulik, Head of India Studies at Moscow School of Management, calls the current engagement an extension of earlier talks. "This visit is very important as it is happening after quite some time, and it's picking up on the visit of PM Modi to Russia in 2024, when the two countries set new agendas in the new environment. This visit is both symbolic and a spectacle," she said.

Kulik also underlines trade goals and future plans for the India-Russia partnership. "India and Russia are looking very positively at their future in terms of cooperation on trade and economy. The priority at the moment is to open the Russian market for Indian exporters. Besides trade and economy, there is going to be political discussions, new deals in defence and military cooperation and a frank exchange of opinions about the current situation in the world," she added.

The exchange of the Russian Bhagavad Gita, the warm welcome at Palam, shared drive to Lok Kalyan Marg and detailed talks in the 23rd Annual Summit together show how New Delhi and Moscow combine symbolism with concrete agendas in defence, trade, technology and cultural exchanges during Putin's 2025 India visit.