Oslo: A cartoon in Norway’s largest newspaper, Aftenposten, depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a snake charmer provoked strong backlash ahead of his arrival in Oslo.
The image accompanied an opinion piece headlined roughly “A clever and slightly annoying man,” which discussed India’s growing interest in the Nordic region. Critics said the cartoon revived a colonial‑era stereotype that portrays India as exotic or primitive, as reported by DNA.
The illustration showed Mr Modi with a flute-like instrument and snakes — imagery long tied in Western caricatures to the “snake charmer” stereotype. Critics say it reduces a modern leader and a diverse country to an outdated, exotic stereotype. Published hours before Mr Modi arrived in Oslo, the cartoon ran beside an article about India’s growing Nordic ties — a contrast many found striking.
The cartoon drew widespread condemnation online. One user on X wrote: “This cartoon is blatantly racist. Ironically, PM Modi used to say the world saw India as a ‘land of snake charmers’ — and now, in Oslo, a European paper depicts hi
m as one.”
Another post stated: “Norway’s largest broadsheet newspaper, Aftenposten, has sparked outrage with a cartoon portraying PM Modi as a “snake charmer” under the headline: “A sneaky and slightly annoying man.” Reducing the leader of the world’s largest democracy to colonial-era stereotypes is not satire — it reeks of prejudice and cultural mockery. Criticism is fair, racism is not.”
This recurrence of the snake‑charmer trope follows a 2022 La Vanguardia cover, “The Hour of the Indian Economy,” which drew criticism from Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath as “an insulting cultural caricature.”
Press Briefing Row
The cartoon added to tensions during PM Modi’s visit after a tense press briefing in Norway. Journalist Helle Lyng asked why the prime minister was not taking questions; Mr Modi remained silent. The exchange prompted a sharp response from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
India‑Nordic Summit
Modi attended the 3rd India‑Nordic Summit in Oslo with leaders from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. The meeting aimed to deepen cooperation on green technology, climate action, trade, innovation, artificial intelligence, Arctic research and defence.
At the summit, India and the Nordic countries improved ties by launching a “Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership,” reaffirming commitments to shared democratic values and sustainable development despite the controversy over the cartoon.