July 2024
The name Indonesia was given by the Greeks and stand for indos nesos or Indian islands. These were well known for their spices and the islands first came under the influence of India. Most names in today's Indonesia are still derived from Sanskrit. Eg: Sumatra comes from the Sanskrit Samudra. Similarly, Jakarta comes from Jayakarta, victorious city
Quick History
The first kingdom was set up in Sumatra, Srivijaya (Today's Palembang city). Sumatra got it's first Muslim kings in the 1300s in Samudra Pasai (now Aceh)
The second ruling kings were in Java, the Shailendra's and Sanjaya's. First they were Shaivites and then Mahayana Buddhists. Shailendras built Boribodur and Sanjayas built Prambanan temples later in Mataram, their kingdom. Last to convert to Islam, they were converted by the mythical Wali Songo, nine saints, primarily Sufi. Their most important king was Sultan Agung. Their new capital was called Yogyakarta, named after Ayodhya and Surakarta.
These kingdoms were divided into 2 by the Dutch by the Treaty of Giyanti in 1755. Daendels was sent by Dutch empire in 1800 by the government. He built what is known as the great post road. During the British annexation, Thomas Raffles annexed the local kings and introduced direct taxation with land peasants. After Napoleon defeat, Indonesia was handed back to the Dutch.
Raffles and Daendels advocated private enterprise and growth of coffee and indigo cash crops. Later the government reverted to taxation through local intermediaries and by 1850s remittances were 1/3 of state revenue. After that again is started to be privatised
The 3rd ruling kings were in Surabaya further east called Majapahit. They built the Temple of panataran. They were second to convert to Islam after Sumatra including Lombok and eastern Islands.
Ethnic groups
Java's inhabitants include three major ethnic groups, the dominant Javanese, the Sundanese, and the Madurese.
Culture Observations:
There is a visible middle class which comes from it being an upper middle income country like Thailand unlike Vietnam or Laos which are lower middle income country. India is also lower middle income but because of sheet population we have a middle class in the cities. Per capita GDP of Indonesia is 5270$ Vs 2731$ for India. Smoking and drinking are not taboo though liquor is not easily available like in other tourist countries.
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| Two Generations |
The Hijab though common is not enforced. I asked one of the girls who was from Sumatra and was waiting on me at Easy Groovy restaurant in Yogyakarta. She said she wears the Hijab but at work she wears work clothes which was T-shirt and shorts. Another receptionist in my hotel at Malang and a guy who I met there said that there is no restriction on what can be worn and it is on the individual.
The country is mostly clean with well made roads and lane markings. Honking is limited and people considerate of others. Islam is not on your face except in one case when I saw space being made on the road for Namaz. The Masjids do have the call to Azan, but in general I felt the religion was private and restrained. I saw many locals taking photos in temples and attending the Ramayana dance drama, so religion is not exclusive. One has to however be ok to wake up early morning especially in the smaller cities or hotels/guest houses near mosques. The Azan starts at around 4 am, so you have to be an early sleeper or someone who can sleep through the Azan call!
Politics
Wibobo, the current president of Indonesia has been focused on building infrastructure similar to what is happening in India. They have also focused on adding value to commodities like Nickel and encouraging battery manufacturers instead of exporting the basic commodity. They are also targeting 2045 to become a developed economy. It is expected to be the 4th largest economy by 2050.
