On the sidelines of the ASEAN India summit, PM Modi along with ten leaders of the ASEAN released a set of commemorative stamps based on the Ramayana, an epic whose history is shared across these Southeast Asian nations, barring Vietnam.
Before releasing the stamps, during his address to the leaders at the summit, PM Modi stressed on the friendship among the nations nurtured by the shared history.
"Our friendship has been nurtured by our shared cultural and civilisational linkages. The Ramayana, the ancient Indian epic, continues to be a valuable shared cultural legacy in the ASEAN and Indian subcontinent," said PM Modi.
He said that the stamps are a "celebration" of this shared heritage. He added that on the sidelines of the summit, Indian authorities have organised a Ramayana festival with troupes from the ASEAN countries to showcase this "common cultural treasure through this great epic".
He also spoke about the shared history of Buddhism and Islam across the region. "Other major religions, including Buddhism, also bind us closely. Islam in many parts of Southeast Asia has distinctive Indian connection going back several centuries," said Modi.
