Carpenter gifts Gita carved in wood to PM

Kanpur, Mar 9: A 32-year-old carpenter from the city got an opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and gift him a unique Bhagvad Gita carved on wood.

Sandeep Soni, who took three years in creating the wooden Gita, had long wanted to meet the PM, but was unsuccessful despite several attempts. After an invitation by the PMO, Sandeep, his mother Saraswati Soni and a friend met Modi and handed him over the Gita, having all 18 chapters and 706 'sholakas', in Delhi yesterday.

Modi later tweeted a picture of him receiving the Gita from Soni on his official Twitter handle. "Sandeep Soni presented to me a copy of the Gita, carved on wood. I thank him for his kind gesture," the PM tweeted. Soni said he was elated after meeting the PM.

"I got emotional after meeting the Prime Minister because I never thought my dream would come true. He was very impressed by the Gita and praised my work in creating it," he said.

Soni also conveyed to the PM that he wanted to start his own business under the 'Make in India' scheme, following which Modi directed officials to provide all the necessary help. Soni, who earns a meagre Rs 9,000 a month, had been invited by the Prime Minister's office (PMO) last month to hand over his creation, but was not able to personally meet the PM.

PTI