Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was recently on a three-day visit to South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS summit, presented a Naga shawl to the First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe on Thursday, 24 August. The Naga shawl has been identified to be that of a Lotha Naga men’s shawl.
Ironically, however, men’s shawls are not gifted to women in Naga culture nor are women’s wear gifted to men. The fact that the Prime Minister of India chose a Naga shawl to be presented as a special gift to the First Lady of South Africa has been appreciated by the Nagas but with “regrets.”
Thungbeni Ngullie, the president of Lotha Eloe Hoho, the apex organization of the Lotha Naga women, expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for presenting the Lotha Naga shawl to the South African First Lady. Traditionally, all Naga shawls are hand woven by the women.
Ngullie, however, regretted that it was a Lotha Naga men’s shawl which are customarily not gifted to women.
“We are grateful that the Prime Minister has chosen to give our Lotha Naga shawl to the First Lady of South Africa, Dr Tshepo Motsepe during his visit to the country for the 15th BRICS Summit.
It is indeed an honor and we are thankful to him for the recognition. However, it is regrettable that it was of a male Lotha Naga shawl which we traditionally do not give to women,” Ngullie said.
The Prime Minister also presented special gifts to other BRICS leaders including South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, and Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva which was widely reported in the media.
“The Prime Minister also gifted a Nagaland shawl to the First Lady of South Africa Tshepo Motsepe. Naga shawls are an exquisite form of textile art that has been woven for centuries by the tribes in the state of Nagaland,” ANI reported.
“These shawls are known for their vibrant colours, intricate designs, and the use of traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down from generation to generation. Each Naga shawl tells a unique story, reflecting the tribe’s history, beliefs, and way of life,” it was reported.
To the South African First Lady, the PM presented a Nagaland Shawl, an exquisite form of textile art that has been woven for centuries by the tribes in the north-eastern state.