Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled his first visit to New Zealand and the personal gifts he has kept for decades [1].
The anecdote highlights the long-term diplomatic and personal ties between the Indian leader and the people of New Zealand. By sharing a private memory during a public address, the Prime Minister sought to emphasize a lasting emotional connection to the country.
Speaking to the Indian community in Auckland, Modi said he took a trip approximately 25 to 30 years ago [1]. He said he still possesses a set of items gifted to him during that visit, which includes a muffler, a cap, and gloves [1].
"This muffler was given to me by a New Zealander, and I keep it close to me," Modi said [1].
The Prime Minister described the items as a reminder of the warmth he experienced during his early interactions with the nation. While some reports refer to the item specifically as a scarf, other accounts detail the full set of winter wear [1, 2].
Modi said he continues to treasure the scarf gifted to him during that trip [2]. The gesture served as a focal point for his remarks on the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The Prime Minister used the occasion to express his affection for the New Zealand people, linking his current diplomatic role to his earlier experiences as a visitor [1].
“"This muffler was given to me by a New Zealander, and I keep it close to me."”
This personal disclosure is a strategic use of 'soft diplomacy.' By referencing a 25-year-old gift, Modi signals that his relationship with New Zealand predates his tenure as Prime Minister, framing the bilateral connection as a lifelong affinity rather than a purely political arrangement.
