Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shared a poignant memory of the late Elizabeth II, adding to the chorus of tributes pouring in from world leaders.
Recalling one of his visits to the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Modi recalled how “During one of the meetings she showed me the handkerchief Mahatma Gandhi gifted her on her wedding. I will always cherish that gesture.”
He added: “I will never forget her warmth and kindness.”
When Elizabeth II—then Princess Elizabeth —married Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten on 20 November 1947, the couple received gifts from around the world, including the lace handkerchief, spun by Gandhi himself.
The 12”x24” handkerchief was carried from India by Lord Louis Mountbatten, Philip’s uncle, as he was Viceroy of India at the time. Its fabric had the words ‘Jai Hind’ woven into it as a central motif. The phrase ‘Jai Hind’ is translated to ‘Victory to Hindustan.’
In an interview with The Telegraph, Lady Pamela Hicks, the daughter of Lord Mountbatten, recalled how the gift came about. She had been asked by the future queen to be a bridesmaid, and before she left for the UK, Gandhi visited her parents and told them “I so wanted to give Princess Elizabeth a present, but I have given all my possessions away.”
She recalled that Lord Mountbatten urged Gandhi to create something with his spinning wheel, telling India’s spiritual leader, “If a cloth could be made from yarn you have spun, that would be like receiving the Crown Jewels.”
Prime Minister Modi expanded on his memories of Elizabeth II, writing in a separate tweet: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be remembered as a stalwart of our times. She provided inspiring leadership to her nation and people. She personified dignity and decency in public life. Pained by her demise. My thoughts are with her family and people of UK in this sad hour.”
Elizabeth II undertook three state visits to India during her 70-year reign, first in 1961, then in 1985 and 1997. During her first visit, she said in a speech: “The warmth and hospitality of the Indian people and the richness and diversity of India itself have been an inspiration to all of us.”
In turn, she received three Indian presidents for return state visits in 1963, 1990, and 2009.
