So much nicer than the boy's toy that he gifted her husband, President Joe Biden. My joy is courtesy a too-short trip to Srinagar that I have just returned from, and I am in love with all things Kashmiri. But mostly because the gift of a pashmi shawl has so much significance; I do hope Modi knows it too.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal empire in Ind had established giving 'khalat'-or expensive robe of honour-as gifts. He obviously understood the importance of fashion and the specialty of fine clothing as his robes comprised turbans, coats, jama shirts, fitted vests, scarves and shawls, all made from the finest fabrics and embroidered with gold threads (zardozi). By the time his grandson Akbar took over, the shawls as gifts were exclusively pashmina. From then on, and well until the 20th century, the Safavid, Zand and Qajar emperors of Iran also wore and gifted pashmina shawls to their political allies.
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