After Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said on Tuesday that his lucky number was 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pointed out the recurrence of the number in the Jakarta-New Delhi relationship.
Modi was speaking at a diaspora event during his visit to Indonesia. Before the Prime Minister took the stage, President Subianto addressed the crowd, telling them the importance of the number 8 in his life.
“Destiny made me the eighth President of Indonesia. As you know, 8 is my lucky number. And actually, I keep finding the number 8 all through my career. I wanted to become the seventh President, but destiny made me the eighth,” Subianto told the gathering.
When PM Modi took the stage, he tied the number 8 to India and Subianto.
PM Narendra Modi on number 8
Prime Minister Narendra Modi got deeper into number eight in a show of camaraderie with President Prabowo Subianto, pointing out more instances of the digit connecting India to the Indonesian leader.
“India celebrated its Republic Day on January 26 last year. Two plus six is equal to?” Modi asked, prompting laughter around the venue.
{{/usCountry}}“India celebrated its Republic Day on January 26 last year. Two plus six is equal to?” Modi asked, prompting laughter around the venue.
{{/usCountry}}The Indonesian President was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade in New Delhi last year.
PM Modi did not stop there. He also added up Subianto’s birth date to get the number 8 to further drive home his point.
“And my friend’s birthday is also 17. One plus seven,” he added, prompting even more laughter from everybody present there.
Indonesian President says he has Indian DNA
Prabowo Subianto revealed on Tuesday that he carried Indian DNA, as per a genome sequencing test he took right before his state visit to the country in January 2025.
“That's why I think every time I hear some music, especially Indian music, I find my body moving," Subianto said, laughingly.
“All my ministers and generals like to dance and sing at the state banquet in our palace. Maybe most of them have Indian DNA also. Most of my ministers sing Indian songs very well,” he added.