Modi recalls Biju Patnaik's Indonesia rescue in historic parliament address

Addressing Indonesia's parliament, Narendra Modi recalled India's support for Jakarta's independence and Biju Patnaik's rescue mission. The speech underlined a shared anti-colonial legacy and enduring political ties between the two nations.

In Short

• India backed Indonesia's independence struggle at the United Nations, Modi said
• Biju and Gyanwati Patnaik flew Indonesian leaders to Delhi despite Dutch threats
• Sutan Sjahrir and Mohammad Hatta were under house arrest in Jakarta

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday recalled key moments in India and Indonesia's shared history, including the rescue of Indonesian leaders by former Odisha chief minister Biju Patnaik, as he addressed the Indonesian parliament. Modi also praised former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for backing Indonesia's independence movement and said the two countries were brought closer by their common anti-colonial struggle.

Modi, who became the first Indian prime minister to address the Indonesian parliament, said India had strongly supported Jakarta's fight for independence at the United Nations. He said the experiences of the two countries under foreign rule and their nearly simultaneous independence shaped a deep bond between them.

"There is so much that our ancestors experienced together. Both our nations endured long periods of foreign rule. We gained our independence at almost the same time, Indonesia in 1945 and India in 1947," Modi told the parliament.

He also referred to the role played by Biju Patnaik in helping Indonesian leaders during a critical period after Indonesia declared independence from Dutch rule on August 17, 1945. Following the declaration, Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and Vice President Mohammad Hatta were placed under house arrest in Jakarta by the Dutch.

In July 1947, Nehru, who had not yet officially taken charge as India's first prime minister, ordered a covert operation to rescue the two leaders. Patnaik, an ace pilot, was given the task. He and his co-pilot wife, Gyanwati Patnaik, flew a Dakota aircraft to Indonesia and brought Sjahrir and Hatta safely to New Delhi via Singapore despite Dutch threats to shoot down the aircraft.

"The role played by the respected Biju Patnaik, and the way he safely brought Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir and Vice President Mohammad Hatta to India, brought our two nations even closer together," Modi said.

In his speech, Modi also mentioned India's Republic Day celebrations in 1950, when then Indonesian president Sukarno was the chief guest. He further referred to the Bandung Conference, the 1955 summit of 29 newly independent Asian and African countries that promoted cooperation, opposed colonialism and laid the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement. Nehru, then India's prime minister, was one of its organisers.

"President Sukarno and Prime Minister Nehru gave a clear message to the world that independent nations have the right to take their own decisions," Modi said. Through his address, Modi underlined India and Indonesia's shared history of independence, political cooperation and mutual support.

With PTI Inputs

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