Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tally of international honours has risen to 35 after Indonesia conferred upon him its highest civilian award, the ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’, recognising his contribution to strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “I accept the Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia with great humility. This honour belongs to the people of India. It reflects the warmth and affection of the people of Indonesia. It is also a tribute to the historic and deeply-rooted ties between India and Indonesia. I sincerely thank President Prabowo, the Government of Indonesia and the people of Indonesia for this special honour.”
‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’, also known as the Medal of Honour, is Indonesia’s highest civilian decoration. It is awarded to individuals who have rendered exceptional service towards the unity, continuity and prosperity of the Republic of Indonesia.
With this recognition, PM Modi has now received 35 international honours from countries across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas since 2016, the highest number received by any Indian Prime Minister.
In a post on X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “A tribute to the India-Indonesia friendship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the ‘Bintang Adipurna of the Republic of Indonesia’ Medal of Honour by President Prabowo Subianto. This is the highest honour of the Republic of Indonesia. It has been awarded in recognition of the Prime Minister’s leadership in strengthening India-Indonesia friendship and furthering the unity, continuity and prosperity of Indonesia. The Prime Minister dedicated the honour to the people of India and the enduring bonds of friendship between India and Indonesia.”
The honours received by PM Modi are among the most prestigious state decorations in their respective countries, with many carrying centuries-old legacies.
Last month, Seychelles conferred its highest national honour, ‘Guardian of the Blue Horizon’, on the Prime Minister in recognition of his leadership in environmental conservation and sustainable development.
PM Modi dedicated the award to all nations working together to address the global challenge of climate change and to those committed to protecting the environment for future generations. The honour also recognised his sustained emphasis on sustainable development and environmentally responsible growth.
PM Modi became the first foreign Head of Government to receive Bhutan’s ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’, the country’s highest civilian honour, presented by the King of Bhutan.
He was also honoured with Nigeria’s ‘Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger’, becoming only the second foreign dignitary after Queen Elizabeth II to receive the distinction.
Earlier this year, Israel conferred upon him the ‘Medal of the Knesset’, making him the first recipient of the honour.
Egypt honoured PM Modi with the ‘Order of the Nile’, the country’s highest state decoration, presented by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The United States awarded him the ‘Legion of Merit’, presented by then US President Donald Trump, in recognition of his leadership in strengthening the India-US strategic partnership.
Russia also conferred upon him the ‘Order of St. Andrew the Apostle’, the country’s highest state decoration, for his contribution to deepening the strategic partnership between India and Russia.
Several of these prestigious honours have previously been bestowed upon globally renowned leaders, including Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Queen Elizabeth II, Xi Jinping and Winston Churchill, underscoring their stature as the highest civilian or state honours of their respective countries.
(With IANS inputs)
