Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday said he has Indian DNA and hailed India's democracy as a remarkable achievement, from which Indonesia draws lessons. Speaking to the Indian diaspora in Jakarta, he recalled his genome sequencing test before a state visit to India, which revealed Indian ancestry.
Gene test reveals Indian ancestry
"Just before my state-visit to India, I had done the genome sequencing test and I found out that I had Indian DNA," Subianto said, drawing cheers from the crowd. In a light-hearted remark, he added, "So whenever I hear Indian music, I find my body moving... Today at the state-banquet, I cannot help; my ministers and generals they all like to dance and sing. Maybe most of them have Indian DNA also. It's true. Most of my ministers sing Indian songs really well."
Praise for Indian democracy and elections
Subianto, who was chief guest at India's Republic Day in 2025, noted that President Sukarno was also chief guest in 1950. He said, "We are the two largest democracies in the world. It is not an easy path but it is the best system for justice, hope, inclusiveness... We must believe and strive to maintain democracy." He lauded India's peaceful transitions at state and union levels, calling it "a remarkable achievement" that he studies and follows.
Copying India's development model
Earlier at a banquet lunch, Subianto openly told PM Modi: "I follow your career and I copied many of your programmes. I don't mind admitting, because if it succeeds for hundreds of million people with the same background as Indonesia, the same problems... we have the same problems of big population, we have agriculture in background, we face many natural disasters, and yet India has achieved many progress." He added that these adapted strategies are already delivering positive outcomes.
Bilateral exchange and honor for PM Modi
Subianto revealed that a Jakarta delegation recently studied India's agricultural innovations. He conferred upon PM Modi the 'Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia' Medal of Honor for strengthening India-Indonesia friendship. PM Modi dedicated the honor to the people of India. Subianto is on a three-day state visit to Indonesia.
