The Significance of Indonesia and Jakarta for Me
This is a personal reflection with my current limited perspective about the latest global trend, technology, urban challenge, Indonesia, South-east Asia, world history and philosophy.
Global Cities & Livable Cities
In the journey of my life (education, career, spiritual, relationship), I have seen and experienced the importance of city. Yes, city has its own potential (e.g. socio-cultural-economic influence) and danger (e.g. crime, pollution, traffic jam). I personally have visited and researched some of the most prominent global cities in the world: Washington, D.C. (the most politically powerful city in America), New York (one of the top financial centers in the world), Athens (ancient city with tremendous impact to civilization and philosophy), Dubai (one of the most exotic cities in the Middle East), Beijing (one of the most politically powerful cities in Asia with rich cultural heritage), Singapore (city that has experienced transformation from third world to first world).
I also have seen famous list of the most livable cities in the world. The following cities frequently appear in this list: Melbourne, Vancouver, Copenhagen, Sydney, Osaka, Tokyo, Vienna. Several times, I may have the option/possibility to live in those cities. However, if I have to be honest with myself, I do not have strong inclination to live there (although I know that the stability and quality of life will be really great and comfortable). Up to this moment, I still always want to return and contribute to my home-country (Indonesia) and home-town (Jakarta). This admiration towards Indonesia and Jakarta triggers me to ponder and reflect the reasons from various perspectives (personal, ideological, historical, economics, social, religious, etc).
South-east Asia and Indonesia
When I ponder about South-east Asia, I can totally resonate with one article from Kishore Mahbubani (former Dean of NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy). In that article, he highlighted several key uniqueness of South-east Asia. South-east Asia is a perfect melting pot of various great world civilizations: Muslim, Western, Chinese, Indian. South-east Asia is a great multi-civilizational laboratory where we can learn precious lessons for our future. Kishore closes his article with beautiful statements: If you fall in love with South-east Asia, you will also experience a new joy in your life. And you will wake up every morning saying: “How lucky I am to be living in the heart of my new love!”
Specific for Indonesia, the influences (as kingdom/nation, religion and culture) of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam have played major role in shaping the progress and development of Indonesia. Straits of Malacca is a famous spot for business transaction since ancient time. Traders from India, China, Africa, Middle East and Europe simultaneously came to this spot for business purposes. Furthermore, similar like Spain, Greece, United Kingdoms, Turkey, Roman Empire, China, India, there is also glorious past about “ancient Indonesia”. Srivijaya and Majapahit are two great kingdoms in the region of Indonesia. Even the current national motto of Indonesia (Bhineka Tunggal Ika / Unity in Diversity / Out of Many, One) is based on old Javanese poem written by Mpu Tantular during the reign of Majapahit empire.
At this moment, Indonesia has great potentials (natural resources, diversity, geographical location) and challenges (education, inequality, intolerance) at the same time. It is amazing that such diverse provinces and cultures can be unified into one nation with one national language. I wish in the future, Indonesia may produce several key figures with similar calibre (or even more) as Fukuzawa Yukichi who shaped traditional Japan from non-political-education domain towards modern Japan, Nelson Mandela who had great perseverance and dedication for humanity, Lee Kuan Yew who orchestrated Singapore from “nothing” to first world country or Abraham Lincoln who elegantly navigated America through the civil war and internal conflicts. For sure, I always admire some key Indonesia national figures like H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto who has great wisdom to nurture future potential leaders with very diverse ideological spectrum, Muhammad Hatta who has exemplary intelligence-humility-simplicity-integrity-purity, Soe Hok Gie who has clear conscience towards injustice and inequality, Sri Mulyani who has shown consistent love and contribution towards her country in the midst of adversity.
Until now, I am also pondering and researching the topic about nationalism and globalization. Recently, several prominent intellectuals argue that nationalism will no longer be relevant. One classic example, Benedict Anderson in his book (Imagined Community) sees nationalism as a socially constructed community, imagined by the people who perceive themselves as part of that group. The famous Yuval Noah Harari is seeing nationalism in the same manner.
Jakarta
Building/developing a city is hard and harsh. I learned this a lot from Robert Moses’ life (New York master builder) written by Robert Caro (book title: The Power Broker). The journey of various Jakarta governors (Sutiyoso, Fauzi Bowo, Joko Widodo, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Anies Baswedan) also expresses this point. At the same time, Timothy Keller (one of current prominent Christian pastors & thinkers) inspires me a lot to contribute to our nation and city.
Well, Jakarta is a unique city with diverse dimensions, colors, aspects and stories. Undeniably, it is still within the boundary and context of developing country, Indonesia. It is not as advanced/developed as Washington, D.C, London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo or Singapore. For sure, it is not inside the list of the most livable cities in the world. Pollution, traffic jam and flood are the top fundamental issues for Jakarta.
And yet, Jakarta is like a blackhole that absorbs all people across provinces in Indonesia. I personally have met several great intellectuals and thinkers in Jakarta. Nevertheless, Jakarta still has marginal people with really low access to basic finance, hygiene, technology and education. Furthermore, I am amazed with the development of infrastructure, investment and technology in Jakarta. No doubt, at this moment, Jakarta is the centre for government administration and business. Current five ASEAN unicorn tech companies are also based in Jakarta. There are various key on-going initiatives about Mass Rapid Transit and multi-modal transportation. Although there is a plan to shift the capital city to other location, I still see the unique role of Jakarta, at least as a special business district. I imagine the future pattern will be similar like Washington, D.C. and New York.
Personal Commitment
In the end, I believe I have my own calling, debt, obligation and love for Indonesia and Jakarta. It does not matter with the recent debate and research about nationalism, it is just within my bone and blood. I believe I do not live for my own comfort and stability. In the end, there is a sense of purpose, higher goal, greater good, sensitivity of time & space that brings me here, to Indonesia and Jakarta. I may go to other places/cities for certain period of time for whatever reasons (work, further study, research, conference, church ministry), but I think I will always want to keep the connection and return back to Indonesia.
Let me close with two phrases that I always use to remind myself:
“Never stop in loving Indonesia” (Jangan pernah berhenti mencintai Indonesia)
“Seek the welfare of the city” (Usahakanlah kesejahteraan kota-mu)
Further Reading & References
http://indonesiamengglobal.com/2019/09/kembali-singapura-harapan-indonesia
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/my-new-love-south-east-asia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukuzawa_Yukichi
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Broker-Robert-Moses-Fall/dp/0394720245
https://www.amazon.com/Imagined-Communities-Reflections-Origin-Nationalism/dp/1784786756
https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-21st-Century-Yuval-Harari/dp/0525512179
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/when-and-why-was-the-united-states-capital-moved-to-washington-dc.html
https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Featured%20Insights/Asia%20Pacific/The%20archipelago%20economy/MGI_Unleashing_Indonesia_potential_Full_report.ashx
https://timothykeller.com/books/center-church
https://www.cru.org/content/dam/cru/legacy/2012/02/A_Theology_of_Cities.pdf
I am always open for discussion and highly reachable via:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-kanggrawan-78ab755a
Email: juan.tan.kang@gmail.com
Interests (expanded from Medium profile):
Analytics, Data Science, Innovation, Technology Blueprint, Team Building, Strategy, Business Growth, Strategic Partnership, Organizational Design, Smart Cities, Urban Science, Complex Science, Public Policy, Nation Building, Social Impact, Ideology, Philosophy, Reformed Theology, Arts (Paintings)
