New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Wednesday visit to Indonesia’s historic Prambanan Temple alongside President Prabowo Subianto has brought international attention to a decade-long Indian initiative aimed at restoring and preserving shared civilisational heritage sites across Asia. Beyond functioning as a diplomatic gesture, the visit to the ninth-century architectural marvel illuminates India’s extensive cultural outreach that seeks to revive common historical ties predating modern political borders. This ongoing project, acting as a crucial pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy, complements its strategic and economic engagements throughout the Indo-Pacific region by prioritising the preservation of ancient Hindu and Buddhist monuments.
India’s conservation endeavours began gaining significant momentum roughly a decade ago, with one of the earliest landmark projects being the restoration of the UNESCO-listed Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Vietnam following a 2014 memorandum of understanding. This ancient Shaivite complex, once the religious centre of the Champa Kingdom, is considered a paramount Hindu heritage site in Southeast Asia. This momentum soon expanded to neighbouring nations, encompassing restoration work at the iconic Angkor heritage complex in Cambodia, which includes Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat, and Preah Vihear. Furthermore, in Laos, Indian archaeological teams have worked diligently to restore key structures at the nearly 1,000-year-old Vat Phou Temple, preserving one of the region’s oldest surviving symbols of Sanatan civilisation.
The scope of this cultural diplomacy is equally evident in South Asia, where India has consistently provided essential grant assistance and expertise for monument reconstruction. In Sri Lanka, an agreement was signed in 2015 to restore the ancient Thiruketheeswaram Temple, a revered site dedicated to Lord Shiva. Following catastrophic earthquakes, India stepped up to restore 12 historic pagodas and the Ananda Temple in Myanmar’s Bagan Archaeological Zone, while also launching a $50-million reconstruction programme in Nepal that revitalised 28 heritage sites, including the Seto Machhindranath Temple. Additionally, India funded the reconstruction of the historic Ramna Kali Temple in Bangladesh, which was destroyed in 1971, alongside supporting the conservation of several other centuries-old shrines in the nation.
This soft power initiative has even extended to the Gulf, demonstrated by the prime minister’s 2019 inauguration of the redeveloped 200-year-old Shreenathji Temple in Manama, Bahrain. Reflecting on this expansive geographical footprint, Bharatiya Janata Party information technology department head Amit Malviya noted that this diplomatic strategy is not confined to mere symbolism but represents concrete investments in safeguarding shared cultural legacies. He emphasised that these efforts are rooted in civilisational confidence, strengthening people-to-people ties and reaffirming India’s role as a trusted partner in rebuilding historic connections that transcend contemporary boundaries.
