Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday told the Lok Sabha that India’s cultural and religious linkages with Southeast Asian nations such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam remain a strong pillar of bilateral ties.
Citing ancient religious texts, inscriptions and historical sources, the Ministry of Culture said that Indian philosophical systems, temple architecture, iconography, performing arts and epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata had a lasting impact across the region. Buddhism, which originated in India, continues to shape the cultural fabric of almost all Southeast Asian countries.
Shekhawat noted that institutions under the Ministry, including the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Sahitya Akademi, have undertaken detailed research, documentation and publications to highlight these connections. Epigraphic records in Cambodia and Indonesia, Ramayana traditions across Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, and architectural similarities in monuments such as Angkor Wat, Borobudur and My Son have been studied and preserved.
The IGNCA has also organized international seminars, exhibitions and collaborative projects with cultural institutions abroad, while its Cultural Informatics Lab has created digital archives and virtual exhibitions showcasing Indo-ASEAN cultural links. These initiatives, the Ministry said, align with India’s Act East Policy by fostering cultural diplomacy and people-to-people ties.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, has also undertaken conservation work at several heritage sites in Southeast Asia, including temples in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Further, the Department of Palaeography, Epigraphy & Numismatics has launched a major project to document and interpret Sanskrit and Pali inscriptions in Southeast Asia, supported by an international seminar held last year with scholars from India and Thailand.
The Minister said that such initiatives reflect the government’s commitment to strengthening civilizational bonds under its Brihattar Bharat vision.