Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Ginni Rometty
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Ginni Rometty, Chairman and CEO of IBM, during their meeting in New York September 29, 2014. REUTERS/Mohammed Jaffer

Influential U.S. lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard presented a copy of Bhagavad Gita to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his America visit.

Gabbard, who happens to be the only Hindu member in the U.S. Congress, told Modi that the personalised copy of the Gita was a gesture on her part to show her love for India. The Gita, also known as the Bhagavad Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture from the Hindu epic "Mahabharata." The American Democrat Congresswoman, whose father Mike is a Democratic member of the Hawaii Senate, is from Hawaii. Though born to non-Hindu parents, Gabbard embraced Hinduism during her childhood. Her father is a practising Catholic while her mother, who is white, also practises Hinduism.

Gabbard met the Indian Prime Minister at a hotel. The Economic Times reported that Gabbard also had the same copy of the Gita in her hand when she was being sworn in to the U.S. House of Representatives. She tweeted about her meeting with Modi and said that it was the copy of the holy book which she had had since her childhood. It was the same copy which she had taken shelter on when she was on duty in the Middle East war zone. "Today I was very honoured to have the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Modi, where I presented him with a gift of my personal copy of the Bhagavad Gita," she said on her Facebook page.

The 33-year-old Congress woman wrote elaborately on Facebook about the copy of the Gita she had presented Modi. She said that it was the greatest gift she had given to the Indian prime minister as it was of the greatest value to her. She called it a "personal sacrifice" to give the copy of the Gita which had been "very dear" to her. "Presenting of my personal Bhagavad Gita to the Prime Minister was my way of expressing just how deep my affection and love is for India, for the Prime Minister, and for the people of India who he represents," Gabbard added.

Gabbard was present while Indian-Americans gave a gala reception to Modi at the Madison Square. The first name of Gabbard means "holy basil," plant which is highly respected among Hindus.

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au