Azerbaijanis show interest in Indonesian language

Veeramalla Anjaiah ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Baku   |  Tue, 07/08/2008 10:21 AM  |  World

Can you believe it? In Azerbaijan, an oil-rich country in the South Caucasus, there is a full-fledged Indonesian language program at one of the country's universities.

LEARNERS OF INDONESIAN LANGUAGE: Prof. Habib M. Zarbaliyev (right) and his daughter Laura Zarbaliyeva (second right) along with their students, who are learning Indonesian, attend a meeting at the Azerbaijan University of Languages in Baku recently. (JP/Veeramalla Anjaiah)

"Yes, it's true we have an Indonesian language program. We started it last year," Habib M. Zarbaliyev, an Indonesian language professor at the Azerbaijan University of Languages in Baku, told The Jakarta Post recently.

The Indonesian language originated from Malay, which for centuries served as the lingua franca of Indonesia.

The Post recently visited the university campus and met some of the students who are learning the language. Surprisingly, these young Azerbaijanis have decided to learn Indonesian at a time when most of their peers are clamoring to learn English and other European languages. Their motivations were varied.

"Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim nation. Azerbaijan is also a Muslim-majority country. That's why I decided to join the program, to know more about Indonesia," Haziyeva Leyla, a student, said in fluent Indonesian.

Asgarova Hamaya, another student from the same program, offered a different reason.

"Our cultures have so many things in common. I would like to know more about Indonesia and its tolerant culture," Hamaya said.

Most of the students were eager to visit Indonesia and test their language skills.

"Many of them are looking forward to having a chance to visit Indonesia," said Laura Zarbaliyeva, a lecturer and the daughter of Habib Zarbaliyev.

The primary advocate for the creation of the Indonesian language program was Professor Zarbaliyev, an Azerbaijani who has devoted most of his life to promoting Indonesia and its language in Azerbaijan. He added that his main problem was the lack of an Indonesian embassy in Baku.

Presently, the Indonesian ambassadorship to Iran covers Azerbaijan as well.

The 55-year-old Zarbaliyev learned Indonesian at St. Petersburg University in Russia.

"I have been promoting Indonesia in my country through various TV and radio programs, seminars and cultural programs for a long time. I am very happy that we now have this language program," Zarbaliyev said.

He has also written more than 60 articles on Indonesia in various newspapers, magazines and journals.

He decided to pass on the baton to his daughter, Laura, a recipient of Indonesia's Non-Aligned Movement Scholarship, in order to continue his efforts to promote the Indonesian language in Azerbaijan.

Last year, the Indonesian government awarded its highest civilian award -- the Bintang Mahaputra Nararya -- to an Indonesian professor living in Italy, Siti Faizah Soenoto Rifai, who has been promoting her native language there for over four decades.

Perhaps the Indonesian government will one day recognize Zarbaliyev's similar efforts -- in a distant land -- to promote Indonesian, a language spoken by more than 250 million people in more than 15 countries.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.