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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also received as a present ‘The World Tipitaka: Sajjhaya Phonetic Edition’ — a compilation of Buddha’s teachings and regarded as the principal Buddhist scripture — from his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra
PM Narendra Modi receives ‘The World Tipitaka: Sajjhaya Phonetic Edition’ from his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra; (right) Thailand released a special stamp depicting Ramayana murals to mark Modi’s visit to the country. (Image: @narendramodi/XNews18)
In a significant moment of cultural and spiritual diplomacy, Thailand on Thursday released a special stamp based on Ramayana mural paintings from the 18th century to mark the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. He also received as a present ‘The World Tipitaka: Sajjhaya Phonetic Edition’ from his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
“I am grateful to the Thai government for issuing postage stamp based on 18th-century Ramayana mural paintings on the occasion of my visit,” he said. Modi arrived in Bangkok on a two-day visit to attend the 6th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit.
The ‘Tipitaka’ (Pali), or ‘Tripitaka’ (Sanskrit), is a revered compilation of Buddha’s teachings consisting of 108 volumes and is regarded as the principal Buddhist scripture. The special edition presented to the Indian PM is a meticulously crafted version written in Pali and Thai scripts, ensuring the accurate pronunciation of over nine million syllables. It was published in 2016 as part of the World Tipitaka Project by the Thai government to commemorate the 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) and Queen Sirikit.
“A very special gesture! I am grateful to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for giving me a copy of the Tipitaka in Pali. Pali is indeed a beautiful language, carrying within it the essence of Lord Buddha’s teachings. As you are all aware, our government had conferred the status of classical language on Pali last year. People from all over the world have appreciated this decision and it has also encouraged research as well as study on this language,” he said in a post on X, sharing pictures of the ‘Tipitaka’ given to him by the Thai PM.
A very special gesture! I am grateful to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for giving me a copy of the Tipitaka in Pali. Pali is indeed a beautiful language, carrying within it the essence of Lord Buddha’s teachings. As you are all aware, our Government had conferred the… pic.twitter.com/FDTx4yfmDd
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 3, 2025
On his arrival, Modi received a Guard of Honour followed by delegation-level talks with Shinawatra. In a post on X, the Prime Minister’s Office said he witnessed a mesmerising Ramakien, Thai Ramayana performance after he arrived in Bangkok. It showcased the rich civilisational connect between India and Thailand, it said.
“A cultural connect like no other! Witnessed a captivating performance of the Thai Ramayana, Ramakien. It was a truly enriching experience that beautifully showcased the shared cultural and civilisational ties between India and Thailand,” Modi said in a post on X. “The Ramayana truly continues to connect hearts and traditions across so many parts of Asia.”
In the evening, he will join the BIMSTEC leaders from Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan to oversee the signing of the Agreement on Maritime Cooperation.
After concluding Thailand’s visit, he will travel to Sri Lanka for his first visit to the island country since the election of its new president. The BIMSTEC summit will bring him face to face with Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli, Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus and Myanmar military junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, among others.
(With PTI inputs)