Indonesian President’s ‘Indian DNA’ quip at banquet leaves PM Modi in splits
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, during a dinner hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu, joked about his newfound connection to India, saying a recent DNA test revealed he has Indian ancestry.
“A few weeks ago, I had my genetic sequencing test and my DNA test, which determined I have Indian DNA. Everybody knows that when I hear Indian music, I start dancing. It must be a part of my Indian genes,” said Subianto leaving the guests, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in splits.
Subianto, who was in New Delhi as the chief guest for India’s 76th Republic Day celebrations, used the occasion to highlight the enduring cultural and historical ties between India and Indonesia.
“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 civilisation is very strong,” he said, emphasising the shared heritage between the two nations.
He also expressed his admiration for PM Modi’s leadership, calling it “inspirational”. He said, “I am very proud to be here in India. 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.”
Subianto praised PM Modi’s focus on eradicating poverty and uplifting marginalised communities, saying, “His commitment to alleviating poverty, helping the weakest parts of your society, is an inspiration for us. I wish the people of India prosperity, peace, and greatness in the coming years. I hope Indonesia and India continue to be close partners and friends.”
Earlier in the day, President Subianto joined President Murmu and Prime Minister Modi at the Republic Day celebrations held at Kartavya Path, where he was accorded a ceremonial welcome.
