Indonesia's independence forged by mutual cooperation, says scholar

Indonesian scholar Prof. Yudi Latif asserts that the primary strength behind Indonesia's formation and continued existence is not solely political, but deeply embedded in the cultural practice of 'gotong royong,' or mutual cooperation.

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The kingdoms and sultanates in Nusantara numbered between 250 and 390. They put up resistance, from Maluku, Java, Sumatra to Sulawesi. But because the society was diverse, it was too easy to incite division, and the resistance remained local.

Latif explained that during the colonial era, the Nusantara archipelago comprised hundreds of kingdoms and sultanates, each with a history of resisting foreign powers. However, these resistance efforts were often localized and sporadic because a unifying element was missing. "The kingdoms and sultanates in Nusantara numbered between 250 and 390. They put up resistance, from Maluku, Java, Sumatra to Sulawesi. But because the society was diverse, it was too easy to incite division, and the resistance remained local," he stated.

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Indonesia emerged as the common denominator that united these various differences.

He believes Indonesia emerged as a nation when a "common denominator" was found to unite the diverse ethnicities, religions, and ideologies. Latif likened this to a mathematical concept where fractions cannot be added without a common denominator. "Indonesia emerged as the common denominator that united these various differences," he explained. The term 'Indonesia' itself, initially an ethnographic and geographic term, was adopted by the nation's founders as a symbolic act of resistance against colonial identity.

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If Bung Karno said, the core of Pancasila is gotong royong. When these various fragments unite and cooperate, that is where the nation's strength is born.

However, Latif stressed that the name alone was insufficient; a shared value was needed to bind the nation, which was ultimately formulated in Pancasila. Quoting Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, Latif noted that the core essence of Pancasila is indeed gotong royong. "If Bung Karno said, the core of Pancasila is gotong royong. When these various fragments unite and cooperate, that is where the nation's strength is born," he said. Latif views gotong royong not merely as a slogan but as a historically proven cultural strength, citing its role in Indonesia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, where the involvement of civil society, social organizations, and various communities was crucial for effective handling.

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That is our culture. Gotong royong is a strength that has been tested throughout the history of this nation.