Jakarta Globe, Rabab Hannan, Jan 28, 2015
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| Guests at the opening ceremony of Sahabat India at Jakarta’s Taman Ismail Marzuki concert hall. (Photo courtesy of the Indian Embassy) |
Jakarta.
Enchanting tunes of classical Indian music reverberated through the opening
ceremony of Sahabat India as former President Megawati Soekarnoputri launched
the Festival of India in Indonesia at Jakarta’s Taman Ismail Marzuki concert
hall on Monday night.
Indian
Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste Gurjit Singh welcomed more than a
hundred guests to the three-month-long festival celebrating India’s social,
economic and cultural engagement with Indonesia.
Ambassador
Singh welcomed guests to Monday’s ceremony, which commemorated India’s 66th
Republic Day, with the slogan “Sahabat India,” meaning “trustful, loyal, true
friend.”
Megawati’s
surprise appearance stunned the crowd. “As the fifth president of the Republic
of Indonesia and as chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
[PDI-P], I have always reminded [myself] that is very important to build
friendship and cooperation between nations.”
Megawati
highlighted Indonesia’s profound friendship and respect for India in its appreciation
of ahimsa, one of Hinduism’s cardinal virtues and the essence of non-violence.
“As nations
we both possess many similar values: ahimsa, for example,” Megawati said.
“Ahimsa is an instrument effective in struggling for advancement … to stand on our
own feet, which has become the basis of Indonesia’s formation: integrity and
character in our culture.”
“It is this
cultural link and a long friendship that unifies our nations and people. This
festival serves as a platform for strengthening relations between India and
Indonesia.”
Trade
Minister Rahmat Gobel also used the opportunity to emphasize the festival’s
importance for strengthening trade and investment between the two countries in
the coming years of President Joko Widodo’s government.
“Indonesia
and India already enjoy a robust economic relationship in which India has
become Indonesia’s largest trading partner, export market and source of imports
from South Asia,” he said.
“However, I
understand that there are hurdles and challenges to overcome, therefore we must
work together to break down barriers to trade and investment,” Rahmat added. “I
look forward to the commencement of the negotiation of the Indonesian India
Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement for the benefit of both our
nations.”
Miss
Indonesia India 2015 contestants also participated in the ceremony ahead of
their competition’s finale later this month.
The
festival will run through May 2015, programming for which includes Indian folk
dances, Bollywood film exhibitions and various food and entertainment events.
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Former
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, right, praises the historic friendship
between Indonesia and India which, in the words of Ambassador Gurjit Singh
draws on a civilizational bond, during India’s Republic Day festivities on Jan.
26,
2015. (BeritaSatu Photo/Gugun A. Suminarto)
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