The Concepts of Nusantara

Nusantara is an Indonesian word designating the Indonesian archipelago. It is synonymous with Indonesia, excluding the Malaysian, Filipino, Singaporean, and Bruneian lands, but including the interior of Kalimantan, the last corner of Sulawesi, and Papua (from Manokwari to Merauke on the Papua New Guinean border).

The word Nusantara was taken from an oath by Gajah Mada, as written on an old Javanese old manuscript by Negarakertagama. Gajah Mada (d. circa 1364) was, according to ancient Javanese manuscripts, poems and mythology, a famous military leader and prime minister (mahapatih) of the Majapahit Empire, credited with bringing the empire to its peak of glory. Gajah Mada is said to have delivered an oath called Sumpah Palapa, in which he vowed not to eat any food containing spices until he had conquered all of Nusantara. In modern Indonesia, Mada is considered an important national hero and nationalist symbol.

Ancient concepts of Nusantara

Etymology

Nusantara is a Javanese phrase meaning "outer islands" (from nusa, "island"). In the Javanese concept of state, the monarch has the power over three areas:

1. Negara Agung, or the Grand State, the core kingdom. this includes the capital and the surrounding area. In Majapahit sense, this area covered the whole East Java and its surrounding area.
2. Mancanegara, countries surrounding Negara Agung. These countries' cultures shows strong influence of Javanese culture and concepts. If this concept is used in the context of Majapahit empire, this includes the whole Java island, Madura, Bali, and maybe Lampung and Palembang (South Sumatra).
3. Nusantara, areas which do not resonate Javanese culture, but sometimes still claimed as colonies where they had to pay tribute.

The history of Nusantara

The name "Nusantara" is mentioned in the Pararaton (Book of Kings), a chronicle of Javanese history that, based on the language in which it is written, seems to date from the end of the 15th or the beginning of the 16th century. In the text, it is said that Gajah Mada, when he was appointed as mahapatih (prime minister) under queen Tribhuwanatunggadewi of the Majapahit kingdom in eastern Java, made an oath to conquer Gurun (Gorong in the Moluccas), Seram, Tanjungpura (an ancient kingdom in western Borneo), Haru (Aru in eastern Indonesia), Pahang (the current Malaysian state), Dompo (Dompu on Sumbawa island), Bali, Sunda, Palembang, and Tumasik (the ancient name of Singapore). His declaration is as follows :

“Sira Gajah Mada pepatih amungkubumi tan ayun amukita palapa, sira Gajah Mada : Lamun huwus kalah nusantara ingsun amukti palapa, lamun kalah ring Gurun, ring Seram, Tanjungpura, ring Haru, ring Pahang, Dompo, ring Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, samana ingsun amukti palapa “

"Gajah Mada, he the prime minister, said he will not taste spice, said Gajah Mada : Until I have unified Nusantara, I shall not taste spice. Unless I have conquered Gurun, Seram, Tanjungpura, Haru, Pahang, Dompo, Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, I shall never taste spice."

"Nusantara" more generally refers to countries outside Java, which Majapahit regarded as tributaries. While often interpreted literally to mean that Gajah Mada would not allow his food to be spiced, the oath is sometimes interpreted to mean that Gajah Mada would abstain from all earthly comforts until he has conquered the entire known archipelago for Majapahit. This oath was named "Sumpah Palapa" ("Palapa oath") by the Indonesian authorities.

Even his closest friends were initially skeptical of his oath, but Gajah Mada kept pursuing his dream to unify Nusantara under the glory of Majapahit. Soon he conquered the surrounding territory of Bedahulu, (Bali), and Lombok (1343). He then sent the navy westward to invade the remnants of the thallassocratic kingdom of Sriwijaya in Palembang. There he installed Adityawarman, a Majapahit prince as vassal ruler of the Minangkabau in West Sumatra.

He then conquered the first Islamic sultanate in Southeast Asia, Samudra Pasai, and another state in Swarnadwipa (Sumatra). Gajah Mada also conquered Bintan, Tumasik (Singapore), Melayu (now known as Jambi), and Kalimantan.

At the resignation of the queen, Tribuwanatunggadewi, her son, Hayam Wuruk (ruled 1350-1389) became king. Gajah Mada retained his position as mahapatih under the new king and continued his military campaign by expanding eastward into Logajah, Gurun, Seram, Hutankadali, Sasak, Makassar, Buton, Banggai, Kunir, Galiyan, Salayar, Sumba, Muar (Saparua), Solor, Bima, Wandan (Banda), Ambon, Timor, and Dompo.

He thus effectively brought the archipelago under Majapahit's control, which spanned not only most the territory of today's Indonesia, but also that of Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei.

In fact, there are no historical evidences of all these claims. For instance, Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta, who visited northern Sumatra in 1346, makes no mention of Majapahit in his book. It is more realistic to see Majapahit as the centre of a network of polities that traded with each other while accepting Majapahit's demands for a priviledged relationship. Majapahit would from time to time send controllers, called bujangga, to ensure that none of these countries would not trade for its own interest. Should one of them be proven to do so, Majapahit would send an expedition to punish it.

Indonesian concept of Nusantara

In the year 1920, Ernest Francois Eugene Douwes Dekker (1879-1950), who was also known as Dr.Setiabudi , introduced a name for his country (Indonesia) which didn't include any Indian words. That name was Nusantara.

The definition of Nusantara introduced by Setiabudi is different to the 14th century definition of the term. During the Majapahit era, Nusantara described vassal areas to be conquered. Setiabudi didn't want this aggressive connotation, so he defined Nusantara as all the Indonesian regions from Sabang until Merauke.

Palapa Oath (where the term Nusantara was first used) is in reality the embryo of the modern unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, notwithstanding the fact that the territory of Majapahit was then even much wider than the current territory of Indonesia.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nusantara