Remarks by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar on the occasion of the inauguration of the Sarsobeikman Literary Centre Building, Myanmar (March 04, 2026)

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Namaskar and Mingalaba!

It is my honour to join the inauguration of the Sarsobeikman Literary Centre, a Government of India - assisted project, located in the heart of Yangon. This centre, a symbol of our close bilateral ties will preserve Myanmar's literature and foster creative writing.

India and Myanmar have been bound together for centuries by spirituality, kinship and geography, as well as by language and literature. As Buddhism and Pali language and literature travelled across South Asia, they carried with them ideas, texts, and a shared intellectual heritage. Pali scholarship flourished in Myanmar, preserving scriptures and commentaries that imbue the traditions and moral values of the people of Myanmar to this day. Burmese translations of Indian epics and major works such as the Ramayan, Bhagavad Gita and Thirukkural have been highly popular in Myanmar.

The Sarsobeikman Centre will support the conservation and study of classical and folk literatures of Myanmar, as well as translation, archival work, creative writing, and scholarly exchanges. It will make Myanmar's heritage accessible to the newer generations and to wider audiences.

Friends,

Myanmar lies at the confluence of our three key foreign policy priorities - Neighbourhood First, Act East, and MAHASAGAR including the Indo-Pacific. Our multifaceted engagement, includes political, trade, security and cultural cooperation. When it comes to development cooperation, our engagement with Myanmar has been people-centric and demand-driven, aimed towards strengthening local economies and improving lives, the Sarsobeikman Literary Centre is an example.

Friends, Connectivity is central to our shared future. The Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the Kalewa-Yagyi segment of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway are our ongoing flagship initiatives, aimed to deepen bilateral ties and spur regional growth. The continued cooperation will ensure their timely completion and will further enhance our trade and people-to-people connect.

India has always stood by Myanmar in times of need. As a first responder, we have provided relief during the cyclones, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic. "Operation Brahma", following the March 2025 earthquake in Mandalay, was one of India's largest HADR efforts, in which we provided nearly a 1,000 tonnes of relief material, deputed an 80-member search-and-rescue team, and established a field hospital in Mandalay that treated over 2500 patients. Our post-earthquake assistance has continued, such as a Jaipur Foot limb fitment camp in a Yangon monastery last year which benefitted over 650 patients, and the forthcoming delivery of technical equipment for earthquake relief activities next month.

Friends,

Allow me to also dwell briefly on India's support to Myanmar's peace process. As the world's largest democracy with 1.4 billon people living together in peace and harmony, India has regularly shared its experiences in federalism and constitutionalism with stakeholders in Myanmar. We support an inclusive, Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process, that can deliver lasting peace and development for all in Myanmar.

In conclusion, I am confident that the Sarsobeikman Literary Centre will not only become a beacon of learning and a home for Myanmar's literary treasures, but also a thriving symbol of our enduring friendship for years to come.

Thank you. Kyay zu tin ba deh.

March 04, 2026