Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, on his maiden State visit to India, charmed audiences with a lighthearted revelation of his Indian ancestry during a special banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The moment, which sparked laughter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, underscored the warmth of the ties between the two nations.

“A few weeks ago, I had my genetic sequencing test and my DNA test, which determined I have Indian DNA,” President Subianto said with a smile. “Everybody knows that when I hear Indian music, I start dancing. It must be a part of my Indian genes.”

President Subianto further expressed his pride at visiting India, wishing its people prosperity, peace, and greatness in the years ahead. Highlighting the deep cultural and historical connections between India and Indonesia, he noted the enduring influence of Sanskrit on the Indonesian language and culture.

“A very important part of our language comes from Sanskrit. Many Indonesian names are Sanskrit names. In our daily lives, the influence of ancient Indian civilization is very strong,” he remarked.

President Subianto’s admiration for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership also came to the fore during his remarks. “I am not a professional politician, I am not a good diplomat, I say what is in my heart. I came here for a few days but learnt a lot from Prime Minister Modi’s leadership and commitments,” he said, calling PM Modi’s leadership “inspirational.”

President Subianto’s visit included participation in India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, where he joined President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi at the ceremonial events held at Kartavya Path. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and attended the grand festivities marking India’s 75th Republic Day.