This article covers cultural relations, education and people-to-people links between India and Brunei Darussalam (Brunei), and the Indian community living in Brunei. It is based on the MEA brief of July 2026, and community figures are the brief's estimates as of that date.

The Indian community

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, the discovery of oil in 1929 brought several Indians to Brunei to work in the hydrocarbon sector and allied services. Currently, there are approximately 14000 Indian nationals living and working in Brunei. A majority are from the States of Tamil Nadu (over 40%), Uttar Pradesh (over 15%) and Kerala (over 10%).

There are many healthcare workers from India in Brunei, including doctors, nurses, lab technicians and paramedics. Other Indian professionals include teachers, engineers and IT professionals.

The community has also supported India from Brunei. In May 2021, INS Jalashwa called at Brunei to carry Covid relief donated by the Indian diaspora to India, as noted in the cooperation article of this guide.

Community organisations

Indian socio-cultural associations organise cultural events to celebrate Indian festivals and National Days. The brief names three:

  • Bandar Seri Begawan Indian Association (BSBIA)
  • Indian Association of Belait (IAB)
  • Malayali Association (MA)

The associations also undertake welfare activities such as blood donation camps, health camps and beach cleaning drives. The Indian Chamber of Commerce was established in Brunei in July 1972 and, according to the brief, currently has over 100 Indian business establishments as its members. A Brunei-India Friendship Association (BIFA) was established in 2009, and an Indian Overseas Professionals Network (IPON), an outreach platform for Indian professionals residing in Brunei, was launched in December 2021.

Awards and recognition

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) awardees from Brunei include:

  • Late Shri Mohinder Singh, for community service (2010)
  • Mr. Nazir Ahmed Zakaria, President, Indian Chamber of Commerce (2017)
  • Dr. Alexander Maliakal John, Gastroenterologist (2023)

Dr. T. Ganesan, a cardiologist at Gleneagles JPMC hospital and personal cardiologist of His Majesty the Sultan, was awarded the Dato Seri Paduka award on 15 July 2025. Earlier, Dr. Babu Sukumaran, an oncologist, was awarded the Dato Seri Laila award. In the other direction, Malai Haji Abdullah Bin Malai Haji Othman, founder of the Society for Management of Autism Related issues training, education, resources in Brunei, was awarded the Padma Shri for Social Work in 2018.

Cultural events

Cooperation in Culture, Arts & Sports is the subject of one of the Agreements and MoUs between the two countries listed in the brief. ICCR-sponsored cultural troupes from India have visited Brunei. In 2019, an 8-member "Punjabi Sabhyachar Kender" troupe gave five performances on the occasion of India's Independence Day.

Under the Government of India's initiative of 'Promotion of Cultural Ties with Indian Diaspora', the High Commission organised a cultural event, "Utsav...the Celebration", in Bandar Seri Begawan on 23 January 2021, with a second staging in Kuala Belait on 30 January 2021. As part of the "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav" India@75 celebrations, the High Commission organised events including blood donation drives, tree planting, a free medical camp, a beach cleaning drive and screenings of Hindi movies. A Yakshagana performance was organised on 29 January 2026 with the Karnataka Kal Darshini group.

Yoga

With the arrival of a Yoga teacher sponsored by ICCR, the High Commission started free Yoga classes from January 2026. Two Bruneians, Mrs. Doris Chung Ching Wong and Ms. Nabilah Atiqah binti Haji Sufrian, are undergoing the ITEC Special Training Program for Yoga Trainers from 24 June to 20 July 2026 at Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVYASA), Bengaluru.

The brief records that Brunei is a participant country in India's Nalanda University endeavour. At the ASEAN-India online Hackathon, held on 1-4 February 2021, Brunei was represented by 6 students and 2 mentors. Brunei's Education Minister, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah, took part in the concluding session of the Hackathon through a pre-recorded message, and some senior officials of Brunei's Ministry of Education also took part.