New Delhi, Mar 4: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s support for an inclusive, Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process, saying New Delhi stands for efforts that can deliver lasting peace and development for all in Myanmar. Addressing a gathering in Yangon, Jaishankar said India, as the world’s largest democracy with 1.4 billion people living together in peace and harmony, has regularly shared its experiences in federalism and constitutionalism with stakeholders in Myanmar. He stressed that any durable solution must be driven by the people of Myanmar themselves.
The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Sarsobeikman Literary Centre, an India-assisted project located in the heart of Yangon. Describing the centre as a symbol of the close bilateral ties between the two countries, he said it would help preserve Myanmar’s literary heritage and foster creative writing.
Highlighting the deep civilisational bonds between the two nations, Jaishankar said India and Myanmar have been connected for centuries through spirituality, geography, language and literature. He noted that as Buddhism and the Pali language spread across South Asia, they carried with them shared ideas and texts, with Pali scholarship flourishing in Myanmar.
He also pointed out that Burmese translations of Indian epics and classical works such as the Ramayan, Bhagavad Gita and Thirukkural remain highly popular in Myanmar, reflecting enduring cultural linkages.
The Sarsobeikman Centre, he said, will support conservation and study of Myanmar’s classical and folk literatures, promote translation and archival work, and encourage scholarly exchanges. It will also help make Myanmar’s heritage accessible to younger generations.
On connectivity, the minister highlighted flagship initiatives such as the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Kalewa-Yagyi segment of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, aimed at deepening ties and boosting regional growth.
Recalling India’s role as a first responder, Jaishankar said New Delhi has provided relief to Myanmar during cyclones, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic. He cited “Operation Brahma” following the March 2025 earthquake in Mandalay, under which India supplied nearly 1,000 tonnes of relief material, deployed an 80-member search-and-rescue team, and established a field hospital that treated over 2,500 patients.
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