NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto played the angklung together during PM Modi’s state visit, with the melody of Bollywood’s “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” filling the Merdeka Palace.During a break between meetings, Prabowo presented PM Modi with an angklung set, a traditional West Javanese bamboo instrument, as a diplomatic gift. “For your collection,” Prabowo said. PM Modi accepted with a warm smile, and both leaders tried playing the instrument.The angklung, a traditional musical instrument iconic to West Java, became a symbol of friendship as well as Indonesia’s cultural richness.Earlier, PM Modi told the Indian diaspora: “I noticed that the Bollywood song ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ is very popular here. Today, I told President Prabowo that when India and Indonesia move forward together, it goes far beyond just ‘kuch kuch’; it leads to ‘bahut kuch’.”Prabowo, addressing the diaspora, said he had undergone a genome sequencing test before his state visit to India and found he had “Indian DNA.” “So whenever I hear Indian music, I find my body moving. Most of my ministers sing Indian songs really well,” he said.Prabowo also conferred the ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’ Medal of Honour on PM Modi for strengthening bilateral ties.
