As Indonesia names its new US$34 billion capital ‘Nusantara’, historically minded critics say it’s ‘hard to see the idea’
- Lawmakers pass bill envisioning the new capital as a ‘world-class’ sustainable city and symbol of national identity that will drive the Indonesian economy
- The name, meaning ‘archipelago’ was chosen by President Widodo to underline diversity, but some point out it also has links to a once all-conquering empire
Minister of National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa told parliament on Monday that the president wanted the new capital to showcase the diversity Indonesia – the world’s largest archipelago – had to offer.
“So Nusantara is a unity concept that accommodates all of our diversity, whether in race, language, or ethnicity, and the new Indonesian capital, under that name, will reveal that reality,” he said.
Suharso said Widodo had to choose from “around 80” names proposed by historians and language experts. These ranged from newly created names – such as Negara Jaya, Nusantara Jaya, Pertiwipura and Cakrawalapura – to historical ones, such as Kertanegara, the name of the most powerful ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom of Java.
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But none of those names offer the familiarity that “Nusantara” does.