Modi Highlights Ancient Cultural and Civilizational Links Through Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Garuda as Foundation of India-Indonesia Relations
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indonesian Parliament during his July 6–8 visit to Jakarta, emphasizing the deep civilizational, cultural, and historical ties between India and Indonesia rooted in shared epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, ancient institutions like Nalanda, and common symbols such as Garuda. He highlighted tangible cultural connections through UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Borobudur and Prambanan, as well as shared artistic traditions including Wayang puppetry, dance, and music, reinforcing the millennia-old bonds between the two nations. Modi placed special emphasis on maritime heritage, referencing the 2,000-year-old Bali Yatra festival and urging both nations to elevate their maritime partnership, describing the Indian Ocean not as a barrier but as a strategic and civilizational bridge. He positioned the India-Indonesia alliance as a model of democratic values, trust, and collaborative development, anchored in his 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' philosophy, explicitly distinguishing India's approach as development-oriented rather than expansionist. This visit, his fourth to Indonesia, undertaken at President Prabowo Subianto's invitation, signals a significant deepening of bilateral strategic and diplomatic engagement at a pivotal moment for both nations.
Key Takeaways
- 1. **Maritime Strategic Partnership:** Modi's emphasis on elevating the maritime partnership signals potential defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, including naval collaboration, sea lane security, and joint maritime surveillance frameworks.
- 2. **Counter to Expansionism Narrative:** By explicitly stating India pursues development rather than expansionism, Modi strategically positions India as a trustworthy regional partner, implicitly contrasting with China's assertive posturing in the Indo-Pacific.
- 3. **Geopolitical Significance of Proximity:** The highlighted fact that India and Indonesia are separated by only 150 kilometres of sea underscores the strategic importance of Indonesia as a critical maritime neighbour for India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific security architecture.
- 4. **Democratic Alliance Building:** The shared emphasis on democratic values between the two largest democracies in Asia strengthens the foundation for deeper defence, intelligence, and strategic cooperation within multilateral frameworks like ASEAN and the Quad-adjacent groupings.
- 5. **Soft Power as Strategic Tool:** Leveraging shared cultural and civilizational heritage serves as effective diplomatic groundwork for advancing harder security and defence agreements, building public and political goodwill necessary for sustained bilateral defence partnerships.