New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a special cultural gift to Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov Bibek Debroy’s acclaimed 10-volume English translation of the Mahabharata highlighting the deep civilisational and cultural connections that bind India with the Central Asian nation.
The monumental translation by Bibek Debroy presents the complete and unabridged Mahabharata, bringing together its principal narrative as well as its philosophical reflections, genealogies, dialogues and numerous subsidiary stories. Traditionally attributed to sage Ved Vyasa, the epic remains one of India’s most significant literary and philosophical works.
Gift given by PM Modi to President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov | Bibek Debroy's Mahabharata: Bibek Debroy’s 10-volume English translation presents the complete, unabridged Mahabharata, encompassing its principal narrative, philosophical reflections, genealogies, dialogues and… pic.twitter.com/fNlCy0yYyY
— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2026
The Mahabharata goes far beyond the story of the Pandavas and Kauravas. Through its complex characters and narratives, it explores enduring questions of dharma, duty, justice, morality, loyalty and statecraft. Its influence has permeated Indian civilisation for centuries, shaping literature, theatre, dance, music, painting, sculpture and other forms of artistic expression.
The choice of the Mahabharata as a gift also carries a deeper cultural significance in the context of India’s relationship with Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan has its own monumental oral epic tradition in the Epic of Manas, one of the most important expressions of the country’s cultural identity.
The Mahabharata and the Epic of Manas, though rooted in distinct historical and cultural settings, share a remarkable resonance as epic traditions that preserve stories, values, heroes and collective memory across generations. Both demonstrate how epic storytelling can transcend time and serve as a bridge between heritage, identity and civilisational memory.
The Epic of Manas occupies a central place in Kyrgyz cultural consciousness, just as the Mahabharata has remained deeply embedded in India’s cultural imagination. The two traditions underline the importance of oral and literary narratives in preserving a people’s understanding of morality, courage, duty and society.
