Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday that he, alongside Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, would launch a conservation project for the 1,000-year-old Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta. The announcement was made during PM Modi's departure statement, where he described the monument as "another remarkable testament" to the deep cultural and civilisational ties connecting India and Indonesia for over a thousand years.
Joint Launch and Cultural Significance
Addressing a joint press statement after delegation-level talks with President Subianto at the Istana Merdeka in Jakarta, PM Modi stated, "Tomorrow I will have the privilege of launching the conservation project for the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta alongside President Prabowo." He emphasised that the temple, more than a thousand years old, stands as a symbol of the shared cultural heritage of India and Indonesia. This conservation initiative is part of India's cultural diplomacy and Act East policy in Southeast Asia.
Archaeological Survey of India's Role
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is partnering with Indonesian authorities for the restoration and conservation of several smaller temples within the Prambanan complex. The Prambanan Temple is among the largest temple complexes near Yogyakarta on the Indonesian island of Java, containing original structures built in the 9th century AD. The temples collapsed due to earthquakes, including the May 2006 Java earthquake, volcanic eruptions, and a shift of political power in the early 11th century. They were rediscovered in the 17th century.
Temple Architecture and UNESCO Designation
The Prambanan Temple complex consists of 240 temples dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. It was designed as three concentric squares, with a total of 224 temples in the entire complex. The inner square contains 16 temples, the most significant being the 47-meter high central Siva temple, flanked to the north by the Brahma temple and to the south by the Vishnu temple. According to UNESCO, which declared it a World Heritage site, the temple's stone reliefs are decorated with illustrations of the Indonesian version of the Ramayana epic. UNESCO notes that the Prambanan Temple Compounds present the grandiose culture of Siva art as a masterpiece of the classical period in Indonesia.
Restoration History and Cultural Events
Restoration works have been conducted since 1918, using both traditional interlocking stone methods and modern methods with concrete to strengthen the temple structure, as per UNESCO. The site was designated as Indonesia's National Cultural Property in 1998. During full moon evenings from May to October, the Ramayana ballet is performed in an open-air theatre on the southern side of the temple.
Tagore-Dewantara Year and Bilateral Agreements
PM Modi also declared the upcoming year as the 'Tagore-Dewantara Year of Cultural and Educational Diplomacy' to honour the shared legacy of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Indonesia's first Education Minister, Dewantara. During his two-day visit to Indonesia at the invitation of President Subianto, several memorandums of understanding and cooperation agreements were signed, including in health and technology. The leaders held a private meeting followed by delegation-level bilateral talks. Earlier in the day, PM Modi was conferred with 'Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia', Indonesia's highest civilian honour, which he dedicated to the "crores of Indians" and the historic bonds between the two nations.
