NEW DELHI: Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, speaking at a banquet hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between India and Indonesia.
During his address, he light-heartedly remarked on his “Indian DNA,” a comment that drew laughter from President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi.
Sharing a personal anecdote, Subinato said, “A few weeks ago, I had my genetic sequencing test, and they told me I have Indian DNA. Everyone knows that when I hear Indian music, I start dancing.”
He also pointed out influence of ancient Indian civilisation on Indonesian culture and language, saying, “India and Indonesia have a long, ancient history together. We have civilisational links, even now a very important part of our language comes from Sanskrit. Many names of Indonesia are actually Sanskrit names and in our daily life, the influence of ancient Indian civilisation is very strong. I think it’s also part of our genetics.”
President Subianto praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, particularly his efforts to alleviate poverty and uplift marginalised communities, mentioning that he had learned a great deal from PM Modi during his visit. “His commitment to helping the weakest in society is an inspiration for us,” Subianto said.
Expressing his admiration for India, Subianto added, “I am very proud to be here. I am not a professional politician or a diplomat—I speak from the heart. I wish the people of India prosperity, peace, and greatness in the years to come. I hope Indonesia and India continue to be close partners and friends.”
At the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, President Subianto paid a state visit to India from January 23-26, attending the 76th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including ministers, senior officials, and business leaders.
The visit also marked the signing and renewal of five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) across various fields, including health, traditional medicine, and maritime security. Key agreements included:
- Health cooperation: Signed between ministry of health and family Welfare and Indonesia’s Ministry of Health.
- Maritime safety and security: Renewed between the Indian Coast Guard and Indonesia’s BAKAMLA.
- Traditional medicine quality assurance: Signed between pharmacopoeia commission for Indian medicine and homeopathy (under the ministry of AYUSH) and Indonesia’s food and drug authority.