The Profound Meaning of Prambanan Temple for PM Modi
Jakarta, VIVA – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that Prambanan Temple holds deep significance specifically for him and for the relationship between India and Indonesia.
According to him, the temple serves as a symbol of the cultural ties shared by Indonesia and India. Both countries have agreed to cooperate in the restoration efforts of the temple complex.
“The temple is over a thousand years old; it is a symbol of the shared culture we possess, the cultural interconnectedness between Indonesia and India,” said Indian PM Narendra Modi in Jakarta. The restoration and conservation efforts are planned to be carried out by the Indonesian Government and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
This restoration and conservation agreement has been discussed since President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to India in 2025. Furthermore, PM Modi mentioned that both nations will celebrate long-standing educational diplomacy, marked by the 1927 meeting in Yogyakarta between Indonesian educational figure Ki Hajar Dewantara and Indian philosopher Rabindranath Tagore.
To commemorate this moment, both countries have designated 2026-2027 as the Tagore-Dewantara Year as part of an effort to strengthen cultural and educational diplomacy.
“A golden era lies ahead of us; our history is rooted in the culture we share, and our presence, mutual trust, and future will also be characterised by shared prosperity,” said Narendra Modi.
Previously, President Prabowo and the Indian PM held a meeting at the Merdeka Palace today, witnessing the signing and announcement of 16 cooperation documents and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and India.
The 16 documents cover cooperation between government agencies and companies across various fields, ranging from space exploration, defence, health, and agriculture to telecommunications and education.
PM Modi is scheduled to visit Yogyakarta on Wednesday (8/7), which includes a visit to the Prambanan Temple complex, which is set to undergo restoration through the joint cooperation between Indonesia and India.