PM Narendra Modi 'strikes new chord' with Mongolia on maiden visit

Ulan Bator: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday "struck a new chord" on his historic visit to Mongolia by trying his hand at the traditional fiddle he received as a gift from Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

"Striking a new chord in the relationship with Mongolia. @narendramodi tries 2 understand intricacies of morin khuur," External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

"In Japan he tried his hand on the drum. In Mongolia PM @narendramodi tries his hand on the morin khuur."

Swarup also posted a picture and video of the smiling Prime Minister holding the wooden-framed trapezoid and trying his hand at creating music from the traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument.

The 'morin khuur', also known as horsehead fiddle, is one of the most important musical instruments of the Mongol people, and is considered a symbol of the Mongolian nation.

Later, Modi also tried his hand at the Yoochin, a box zither-dulcimer with 13 double-wire strings.

The strings in this traditional Mongolian instrument are struck with two wooden sticks, so-called little wooden hammers and are similar to the 'santur'.

The Prime Minister seemed to be enjoying playing the instrument for a considerable time, wearing a hat and his Mongolian counterpart Chimed Saikhanbile by his side.

Modi also presented Elbegdorj a specially-commissioned reproduction of a rare 13th century manuscript on the history of Mongols considered by many as the first world history.

Called 'Jamiut Tawarikh', this work was one of the grandest projects undertaken by the Ilkhanate king Ghazan Khan. The king's wazir Rasheeduddin Fazlullah Hamedani wrote it in Persian and chronicled the history up to the reign of Oljeitju (1304-1316).

The manuscript from the Rampur Raza Library, Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) has over 80 fine miniature illustrations. It is a part of Volume 1 of the work and no other copy of it is known to exist.

The breadth of coverage of the work often caused it to be dubbed as the first world history. Modi, on a two-day visit to Mongolia, the first-ever by an Indian Premier, said he brings the "greetings of your 1.25 billion spiritual neighbours" as he addressed the country's parliament which was specially convened for his visit.

He said the two countries are at an important milestone and are celebrating sixty years of diplomatic relations.