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Why Javanese symbolism is intertwined with Indonesian politics
Politicians throughout Indonesia's history have resorted to ancient Javanese symbolism as a means to justify their grip on power.
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President-elect Prabowo Subianto signs on May 8, 2024, a plaque to mark the start of the construction of a replica of the Majapahit palace, as former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief AM Hendropriyono looks on. (Antara/Prabowo Subianto PR team)
A
s 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.
