Indonesian President Highlights Shared Heritage with India, Calls for Closer Cooperation

PTI, July 7, 2026, Jakarta: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday said he has Indian DNA as he encouraged Indonesians to learn from India's experience, highlighting the deep influence of Indian civilisation and culture on the Southeast Asian nation.

Speaking at an event for the Indian diaspora in Jakarta, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indonesian ministers, President Prabowo said it was an honour to have been the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 2025, just three months after assuming office.

Recalling the long-standing friendship between the two countries, he noted that Indonesia's first President, Sukarno, had been the Chief Guest at India's first Republic Day celebrations in 1950, underscoring the enduring ties between the two nations.

Sharing a personal anecdote, President Prabowo said he had undergone a genome sequencing test before his State visit to India and discovered that he has Indian DNA.

He added on a lighter note that whenever he hears Indian music, he finds himself naturally moving to the rhythm.

Continuing in a humorous vein, the Indonesian President remarked that many of his ministers and generals also enjoy dancing and singing, joking that perhaps most of them also have Indian DNA.

Describing himself as a friend of all Indians, President Prabowo said he is a great admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has drawn inspiration from several of his policies.

He said Indonesians should learn from India's experience, noting that Indonesian civilisation and culture have been profoundly influenced by Indian civilisation. He added that nearly half of the Indonesian language is derived from Sanskrit and that many Indonesian names also have Sanskrit origins, reflecting the close historical and cultural relationship between the two countries. He expressed hope for even stronger cooperation between India and Indonesia in the future.

Responding to the Indonesian President's remarks, Prime Minister Modi described President Prabowo as a true friend of India.

Referring to the Indonesian leader's comments about having Indian DNA, the Prime Minister said the statement had touched the hearts of the people of India. He added that this shared DNA symbolises mutual trust, common heritage and generations of shared memories between the two nations.

President Prabowo also said he had held a very productive meeting with Prime Minister Modi earlier in the day.

He noted that India and Indonesia are two of the three largest democracies in the world and acknowledged that maintaining democracy is not always easy. However, he said both countries believe democracy remains the best system for ensuring justice, hope and inclusiveness, and stressed the importance of preserving democratic values.

The Indonesian President also praised the Election Commission of India, saying Indonesia is closely studying its electoral practices and learning from its experience.