Chief Guest for the evening was Manisha Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary and Chief Protocol Officer of the State Government of Maharashtra
To mark the 78th Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, the Consulate-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Mumbai recently held a reception.
According to a press statement by the Indonesian Consulate-General in Mumbai, Chief Guest for the evening was Manisha Mhaiskar, Principal Secretary and Chief Protocol Officer of the State Government of Maharashtra.
In his welcoming remarks, the Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Mumbai, Edy Wardoyo, highlighted the strong relations which recently was showcased in the smooth handover of the G20 Presidency from Indonesia to India, then he congratulated the Indian government on its success as President of the G20.
The statement adds that the official programme was closed with the cutting of the traditional Indonesian dish of Nasi Tumpeng, which is shaped like a mountain, symbolic of the strong roots that the bilateral relations. Guests were treated to cultural and artistic performances like the Tor-Tor Dance from North Sumatra, the Legong Kraton Dance from Bali and two popular songs performed by the staff and spouses of the Indonesian Consulate.
Retracing the historical connection, the statement adds that Wardoyo reflected on the long history of friendship between our two nations. He said that the proof was visible in ancient monuments such as the huge Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the sprawling Hindu compound of Prambanan, both in Central Java and both of which have unmistakable signs of Gupta architecture from India’s Gupta Empire at the time. Meanwhile the Ramayana Epic has references to Swarnadwipa in modern-day Sumatra and Javadwipa which refers to the Island of Java in modern-day Indonesia.
Present at the event were representatives from corporations, institutions and associations from Mumbai and southern India which have had significant and recurring collaboration with their Indonesian counterparts. The statement adds that also invited were delegates from Indonesia as well as Indians who have taken part in cultural programmes where they stayed for several months in Indonesia to immerse themselves in the local customs and cultures.
The Consul-General pointed to the Bali Jatra or “Journey to Bali” festival held each year in Cuttack in the State of Odisha, as proof of historical visits that the Indians had made to Sumatra and beyond. The knowledge route is even older, where in present-day Bihar stands the remnants of Nalanda University where visitors can still see an old building built by King Srivijaya from South Sumatra around the 7th century to house the students from Java and Sumatra who he encouraged to learn Sanskrit and other sciences at Nalanda University.
In her address, Mhaiskar also referred to the long historical links such as the epic Ramayana which also made its way to what is now Indonesia, but in the Javanese version Sita is more firm towards her kidnapper, the Rahwanas. Even the name “Indonesia”, Mhaiskar points out, is how the early Europeans called the archipelago that they thought back then was ‘Indus Nessos’ or ‘the Indian Islands’.
The statement adds that as the two largest countries in their own corners of the world, India and Indonesia are regional leaders who have always had strong relations, a long history, and leader committed to keeping the relations firmly moving towards a synergy of like-minded countries.
