Karimnagar’s 400-year-old silver filigree shines after PM Modi’s G20 gift
HYDERABAD: A centuries-old craft from Telangana’s Karimnagar district has drawn global attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a silver filigree artefact to Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg last week. The gesture has brought pride and renewed hope to the 150 families who continue to practise this delicate art.
“The art is unique. It needs training and patience. Though it dates back more than 400 years, we began organised efforts to preserve it only in the past three decades,” said Ashok Arroju, president of the Silver Filigree of Karimnagar Handicrafts Welfare Society.
PM’s tribute to Indian craftsmanship
During his Mann Ki Baat address on November 30, Modi spoke about promoting indigenous artistry. “Just a few days ago, during the G20 Summit, I reiterated the spirit of ‘vocal for local’. The Prime Minister of Japan was presented with a silver Buddha replica, showcasing Telangana’s filigree work. The Prime Minister of Italy received a silver mirror with floral motifs, also crafted in Karimnagar,” he said.
Craft’s global presence
Karimnagar filigree items have often featured at major events. During the G20 Summit in Delhi on September 9–10, 2023, leaders and delegates received over 200 handcrafted filigree pieces bearing the G20 logo, along with ornamental pens and other designs. “Before that event, I met the Prime Minister, who showed great interest in the craft and suggested we design a pen. We made one specially for the occasion,” Arroju recalled.
Growing orders from elite patrons
The global exposure has also led to major commissions. For the 2024 wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, the Ambani family reportedly ordered 400 silver filigree artefacts from Karimnagar to gift international guests.
