Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday, 7 July declared himself a 'great admirer' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has closely tracked India's policies for years and has adopted several of them in his own governance. Speaking at an Indian community event in Jakarta, alongside PM Modi during the latter's state visit, Prabowo also made a striking personal disclosure — that a genome sequencing test had revealed he carries Indian DNA.

The DNA Revelation

'Just before I made my State Visit to India in January 2025, I had what is called a genome sequencing test — I tested my DNA — and found out I had an Indian DNA. This is true, you know? And that's why I think every time I hear some music, especially Indian music, I find my body moving,' President Prabowo said, drawing loud applause from the gathering.

He extended the observation to his own cabinet, noting that most of his ministers and generals appeared to share the same affinity. 'Today at the state banquet in our palace — state banquets are very formal — but I cannot help, my ministers, my Generals, they all like to dance, they all like to sing; maybe most of them have Indian DNA also. Most of my ministers they sing Indian songs very well,' he added.

Admiration for PM Modi and Policy Adoption

President Prabowo was candid about his political admiration for the Indian Prime Minister, going beyond diplomatic courtesy. 'I am an admirer, a great admirer of Narendra Modi ji. These are not nice words. I am not a professional politician — the proof that I am not a professional politician is that I took part in five general elections and I lost four times — but I am an admirer. Even before I became president, I studied the policies of your Prime Minister, and because there is no copyright, I copied many of his policies. But Prime Minister Modi graciously allowed me to copy his policies, so I cannot be sued in any court,' Prabowo said.

The Indonesian President stressed that the key takeaway for Indonesians is to learn from India's governance experience, describing India's decades of peaceful democratic transitions across a vast and diverse population as 'a remarkable achievement.'

Deep Historical and Cultural Ties

Recalling his attendance at India's 2025 Republic Day celebrations as Chief Guest, Prabowo drew a direct historical line between the two nations. He noted that President Sukarno of Indonesia was the Guest of Honour at India's very first Republic Day in 1950, underscoring the longevity of the bilateral relationship.

'Our civilisation, our culture, for many hundreds of years, were strongly influenced by Indian civilisation. Our language, I would say, is 50 per cent from Sanskrit; many of our names are Sanskrit names, and therefore there is this closeness, and we welcome more close cooperation,' he said.

A Shared Democratic Commitment

President Prabowo used the occasion to reflect on the challenges and importance of democratic governance, positioning both India and Indonesia as among the world's largest democracies. 'We are two of the largest democracies in the world — two out of the three largest — and democracy is not an easy path. Sometimes it is very messy. But I think we all agree that it is the best system for justice, for hope, for inclusiveness,' he said.

He also flagged that Indonesia is actively learning from the Election Commission of India on conducting peaceful elections across a country with multiple ethnic groups and regional languages — a challenge Indonesia shares.

What This Signals

The remarks come during PM Modi's state visit to Jakarta, deepening what both governments have described as a strategic partnership. The warmth on display — personal, cultural, and institutional — points to a bilateral relationship that is moving well beyond trade and into political alignment. Further announcements on cooperation are expected before the conclusion of the visit.