Madhubani Painting Stole the Spotlight at Rajnath Singh’s China Visit 2025
Bihar’s iconic Madhubani Painting got the spotlight in the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting held in Qingdao, China. India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh gifted a Madhubani Painting to China’s Defence Minister Song Jun. The painting depicted the “Tree of Life” providing both aesthetic and philosophical value rooted in India’s heritage, diplomacy, and soft power.
We have covered everything about Rajnath Singh’s gift of the Defence Minister of China in this article, including the meaning of the ‘Tree of Life’ motif. You can use the following Table of Contents to navigate as per your preference:
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Rajnath Singh gifts Madhubani Painting to China’s Defence Minister
Defence Ministers of India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and other member states participated in the SCO meeting. On the second day of the SCO meeting, Rajnath Singh exchanged formal diplomatic gifts with Admiral Dong Jun. And choosing the Madhubani painting as a gift was not random. It holds a subtle yet strong message of India’s civilizational values. The Tree of Life motif ia timeless – it the perfect symbol for denoting growth, resilience and interconnectedness. This very well aligns with the four-point proposal Rajnath Singh made on the behalf of India. It was focused on enhancing trust and avoiding new complexities.
What is the ‘Tree of Life’ in Madhubani Painting?
The “Tree of Life” represents harmony between humans and nature, and also throws light on the cycle of life and rebirth. In Madhubani painting style, the motifs are drawn with fine lines and filled with vibrant natural colours. The painting that was gifted was in the same style and also included birds, animals, and human figures together which portrayed balance and coordination.
By gifting this artwork, India wanted to highlight the fact that while geo-political tensions rise, ancient wisdom can guide diplomacy. Rajnath Singh also asserted that there is a need of a permanent solution for the border disputes. The painting was not just decoration but it also showed balance, mutual respect and the value of staying rooted to your culture.
Historic Roots of Madhubani Painting
The origin of Madhubani painting dates back to ancient times, approximately 7000-8000 years back in the Ramayana era. Mithila which is now a part of modern day north Bihar is known to be the origin point of the painting. As per the available data, King Janaka (Mata Sita’s father) commissioned artists to depict Mata Sita’s wedding in Madhubani painting style. Over time the tradition was passed down – and even today the wedding rituals in Bihar primarily include such a practice.
Madhubani Painting is done using fingers, twigs, matchsticks, and brushes, and uses natural dyes and pigments. The paintings are commonly made around themes like deities, nature, festivals, and celestial bodies. Also, the scenes from Mahabharata are depicted in the paintings. And when such a cultural painting is presented to an international leader – it reinforces the ancient wisdom and cultural pride.
Bihar’s soft power is seen getting an international stage nowadays – with Makhana gaining traction as a superfood. The Madhubani paintings will carry the legacy even further.
Conclusion
This symbolic gesture of gifting a Madhubani painting has added a cultural depth to the diplomatic talks at the SCO meeting. It will serve as a reminder that there must be mutual respect.
Talking of Bihar’s culture, Madhubani style paintings also depict the Chhath Puja – which is the most famous festival from Bihar. If you want to know the details about this Mahaparv, you can read it here.
I’m a final-year engineering student with a deep interest in current affairs, politics, and international issues. Writing news is my part-time passion, where I focus on sharing credible and well-researched stories. Every article I publish is backed by verified sources and multiple levels of fact-checking to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness.
