May 20, 2024
JAKARTA – As a nation, Indonesia is a vast archipelagic region with a wealth of history and traditions, reaching far back into the era of antiquity.
With particular regard to the Majapahit kingdom (13th-16th century), one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia based in present-day Java, it exerted so much influence through trade, diplomacy and military conquest that its dominance in the region contributed to shaping the political and cultural landscapes even today.
It is for this reason that politicians throughout Indonesia’s history have resorted to ancient Javanese symbolism as a means to justify their grip on power, even though it is often antithetical to democratic development.
The latest use of Javanese symbolism by a politician was when president-elect Prabowo Subianto inaugurated last week a project to build a replica of the Majapahit palace in Jakarta, in an effort to preserve the country’s history and culture.
The project was initiated by former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief AM Hendropriyono and is intended to instill cultural awareness.
An inscription for the Majapahit replica signed by Prabowo read: “The replica of Jakarta’s Majapahit palace is a wave of the revival of the Indonesian nation in culture, to build a sovereignty character in politics and an independent character in the national economy”.
During the event, Prabowo also received a statue depicting Javanese hero Prince Diponegoro.
“He is a fan of Prince Diponegoro, so I made a statue of the prince for him,” Hendropriyono said at the time.
When he first ran for president in 2014, Prabowo tried to paint himself as a successor of the Javanese Muslim prince, who led the five-year war against the Dutch between 1825 and 1830, through a short film titled Prabowo: Sang Patriot (Prabowo: The Patriot).
Encompassing admiration
Prabowo, who is also the incumbent defense minister, was not the first to use Javanese symbols in politics.
Losing presidential candidate Anies Baswedan has portrayed himself as a Diponegoro admirer, showcasing a painting of the prince in his living room.
Outgoing President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is known for his penchant for Javanese symbolism, from making big decisions during Javanese auspicious days to using a ritual laden with Javanese symbolism to bless the construction of the new capital city at Nusantasa’s ground zero in East Kalimantan in 2020.
Indonesia’s founders have long used Majapahit symbolism to justify constructing what would become the modern nation-state.
First president Sukarno, along with national figure Mohamad Yamin, insisted that Papua become part of Indonesia in formulating state borders at the beginning of the country’s independence following the Majapahit territory. The national motto “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (unity in diversity) was also inherited from the Majapahit era.
The longest-serving president Soeharto was also widely known for his belief in Kejawen, a Javanese religion, by performing penance and meditation in Cilacap, Central Java, and for his leadership style of a Javanese king with feudal traditions.
“Javanese mysticism, particularly Mataram, is Soeharto’s portrayal,” political analyst Kunto Adi Wibowo of Padjajaran University said referring to the Hindu-Buddhist empire that spread from Central Java between the 8th and 11th century. “Meanwhile, Sukarno used Majapahit mysticism.”
Political analyst Wasisto Raharjo Jati of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said the strong influence of the Javanese leadership philosophy on Indonesian politics could not be separated from the history of some ancient kingdoms centered in Java.
“This motivates politicians to portray themselves using Javanese symbolism,” he said.
Read also: Javanese symbolism still pervades RI’s politics
All seven of Indonesia’s presidents are either ethnically Javanese or half-Javanese, such as late presidents Sukarno and BJ Habibie.
Greatness of Java
Analyst Kunto said the statue and replica were part of Prabowo’s efforts to gain legitimacy using the myths of Javanese Islam and the greatness of Java, which the two items represent, respectively.
“The ceremony is a form of reaffirming Indonesia’s identity as the successor to Majapahit,” he said. “Prabowo seems to want to revive the myth of Majapahit because it is closer to militarism.”
The empire is known for its powerful forces under Mahapatih (prime minister) Gajah Mada, inspiring the modern-day police and military institutions to use the term from the Majapahit era. For example, the word Bhayangkara, now used as the name of a police hospital, is taken from the name of the security forces led by Gajah Mada. The motto of the Indonesian Navy, Jalesveva Jayamahe (in the ocean, we are glorious), is a term from the Majapahit era.
However, Kunto said that efforts to affirm identity “should not negate diversity in the country”.