Nusantara Totally Explained

Everything about Nusantara totally explained

Nusantara is a traditional geographical concept of the Malay world that encompasses the Indonesian lands from Sabang in the West to Manokwari in the East, coastal Kalimantan, and all but the northwest corner of Sulawesi, the Malaysian lands of Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, the southernmost islands of the Philippine archipelago, and the lands of both Singapore and Brunei. Within Indonesia, it has come to be 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 written on a Javanese old manuscript of Negarakertagama. Gajah Mada (d. circa 1364) was, according to Javanese old 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'd conquered all of Nusantara. In modern Indonesia he serves as an important national hero and nationalistic symbol.

Ancient Concept of Nusantara

Etymology

Nusantara is derived from Javanese word of "Nusa" (island) and "Antero" (other, as a whole). In Javanese concept of state, the monarch has the power over three areas:

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.
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).
Nusantara, areas which don't resonate Javanese culture, but sometimes still claimed as colonies where they'd to pay tribute.

The history of Nusantara

Nusantara was firstly used by Gajah Mada (a prime minister of Majapahit kingdom) to refer a geographically term of Majapahit kingdom. Gajah Mada made an oath called Palapa Oath (Sumpah Palapa) to conquer Gurun, Seram, Tanjungpura, Haru, Pahang, Dompo, Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik. All of those region called as 'Nusantara'.
   It is said that it was during Gajah Mada appointment as mahapatih under queen Tribhuwanatunggadewi that Gajah Mada took his famous oath, Sumpah Palapa. The telling of the oath is described in the Pararaton (Book of Kings), an account on Javanese history that dates from the 15th or 16th century:
“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 won't taste any spice, said Gajah Mada : As long as I not unify Nusantara, I won't taste any spice. Before I conquer Gurun, Seram, Tanjungpura, Haru, Pahang, Dompo, Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, I'll never taste any spice." While often interpreted literally to mean that Gajah Mada wouldn't allow his food to be spiced, the oath is sometimes interpreted to mean that Gajah Mada would abstain from all earthly happiness until he conquered the entire known archipelago for Majapahit.
   Even his closest friends were at first doubtful 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 attack the remnants of the thallassocrathic 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 Majapahits's control, which spanned not only the territory of today's Indonesia, but also that of Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and the southern Philippines.

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 Nusantara definition used in the 14th century (Majapahit time). During the Majapahit time, 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.

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