“India Gate sculpture made from Belgian chocolates did not survive journey to India…will get it to PM Modi in one piece”: Belgium PM De Wever
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever unveiled a replica of the iconic India Gate, entirely sculpted from premium Belgian chocolate, as a diplomatic offering for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The edible monument was intended to travel from Brussels to New Delhi as a sweet symbol of the two nations’ shared history.
The choice of the India Gate was deliberate, echoing the memory of Indian soldiers who fought in Flanders Fields during the First World War. The chocolate piece even enlarged the original inscription honoring those troops, turning a solemn tribute into a tactile, confectionery reminder of past alliances.
During the joint press conference at Hyderabad House, De Wever admitted that the chocolate sculpture did not survive the journey, melting or breaking before it could be presented. He promised a replacement will be sent, noting that while chocolate works well for diplomacy, it is less reliable for long‑distance travel.
The episode highlights how cultural gestures—especially edible art—can both charm and complicate statecraft. It underscores the growing importance of creative diplomacy in a relationship that the Belgian leader described as increasingly vital amid India’s rising economic and geopolitical stature.