Cultural assimilation between India and Indonesia

Introduction

India and Indonesia are both living examples of vibrant culture, its diversity and rich traditions that still exist today in South and Southeast Asia. Both countries, separated by geography, have deep historical connections due to the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism across Southeast Asia. Again it’s not hard to decode that cultural factor was the bedrock of their bilateral relations. In this blog, we shall explore cultural similarities or assimilation of India and Indonesia.

Ancient history and cultural assimilation

As we explored in previous blogs, India is oldest civilization with birth place of major four religions of the world. Its cultural landscape has shaped countries art, food, traditions, music etc. and its spiritual and moral guidance has been laid down in its timeless sacred texts like the Veda, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the same manner, Indonesia’s cultural landscape has been heavily influenced by the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism and now it has a predominantly Muslim population. Today the archipelago is not inter-woven with ancient Hindu-Buddhist practices while embracing Islam as new identity. This is evident in the island of Bali where daily rituals and temple architects are heavily Hindu influenced while the rest of the country celebrated Islam festivals. Java and Sumatra Islands in Indonesia too finds its mention in India’s great epic called the Ramayana. In other areas like language, architect, literature saw a tremendous Indian influence that at one point Indonesia was termed as “the Hinduised states of Southeast Asia”. 

Era of Freedom struggle

The time period of colonial rule actually brought about a disconnect between the two countries. India under British rule and Indonesia under Dutch rule, saw a downfall in their relation until India’s independence. For instance, Indian leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, also the first Prime Minister of Independent India actively supported Indonesia’s freedom through establishing the Asian Relations Conference and The Bandung conference that paved the way for Asian solidarity. 

The rest is in history

Their relations were strained due to China and Pakistan factors that complicated their bilateral ties. Further, both countries also did not adequately leverage their cultural tools to foster and consolidate their relations. For a long period there seemed a pause in the activities in strengthening their relations.

India’s Look East Policy

It was under Narendra Modi- the Prime Minister of India, who actively took interest in reviving and fostering bilateral relations with Southeast Asian countries through boosting its cultural diplomacy. In the times of complex geopolitics, India and Indonesia have chosen to consolidate their cultural ties and enhance people-to-people connect as a way to foster trust and peace in the region. Being strategic players in the Indo-pacific region, both countries have also exploited the full potential of their strategic, economic and trade partnership. The ties are expected to gain momentum again under the leaders and their initiatives.

At CCD-NL we work towards spreading cultural awareness and practices in the Netherlands, specifically by looking at Indonesian weaving techniques of Ikat. Through our workshop, projects and exhibitions we aim to build bridges of cultural understanding. For more information visit our website.

References

Mishra .R. (2011). Mosaics of cultures: Investigating the role of cultural linkages in India-Indonesia relations. Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses. https://www.idsa.in/system/files/IB_IndiaIndonesia.pdf 

Patil .S. (2024). Embracing diversity for sustainable growth. Center for Culture and Development-NL blogs. https://www.ccdnl.org/embracing-diversity-for-sustainable-growth