Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated that he has Indian DNA in his body. He remarked, “Everyone knows that when I hear Indian music, I start dancing.”
He made this comment at a banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. On Sunday (January 26), Indian news outlet Hindustan Times reported this.
According to the report, on Sunday, the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade in Delhi. The previous evening, on Saturday, Indian President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet in his honor at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, where Subianto made this remark.
At the banquet, Subianto said, “A few weeks ago, my genetic sequencing and DNA tests were conducted, and I was told that I have Indian DNA. Everyone knows that when I hear Indian music, I start dancing.”
This statement caused laughter among everyone present, including Subianto. During the banquet, the Indonesian President was seated to the right of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and to the left of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apart from Modi and Dhankhar, several Indian Union Ministers, military officials, and administrative personnel were also present at the banquet. During the event, Subianto highlighted the cultural and historical connections between India and Indonesia.
The Indonesian President said, “India and Indonesia share a long and ancient history together. Our civilizations are also interconnected. Even today, a significant part of our language originates from Sanskrit. Many names in Indonesia are actually Sanskrit names, and ancient Indian civilization has an immense influence on our daily lives. I believe this is part of our genetics. Ancient Indian civilization has a strong impact on our everyday lives.”
Other Discussions
Hindustan Times further mentioned that, apart from cultural and historical ties, several topics were discussed between India and Indonesia. Both leaders agreed to enhance coordination on maritime security.
In a joint statement, it was announced that both countries agreed to improve cooperation for the safe passage through the Malacca Strait and the Singapore Strait. This is expected to pave the way for economic growth in the region.