The History Of The Origin Of The Word Nusantara Which Was Used As The Name Of The New Capital City

JAKARTA - Nusantara was chosen as the name of the State Capital (IKN). The Special Committee for the Draft Law on the National Capital City (Pansus RUU IKN) agreed that IKN Nusantara is at the same level as the province. The Minister of National Development Planning (PPN)/Head of Bappenas, Suharso Monoarfa, explained the meaning of the chosen word Nusantara.

"Nusantara is a concept of actualization of the geographical area of a country in which there are islands united by the sea," said Suharso at the DPR building, Monday, January 17, 2022, citing a VOI article entitled "Nusantara Becomes the Name of the New Capital City, This is What It Means." ".

Suharso explained that the islands united by the sea show that the Indonesian nation is a maritime country. Then it was revealed an acknowledgment of geographical diversity based on cultural, ethnic and ethnic diversity.

"So Nusantara is a unitary concept that is willing to accommodate pluralism," he said.

Suharso said the name Nusantara also implies the reality of Indonesia. "Through the name Nusantara, it reveals the reality of Indonesia," he added.

The choice of Nusantara as the name for IKN was criticized by DPR Member from the Gerindra Party Faction, Fadli Zon. Fadli said that the name Nusantara was not suitable for the capital city that would be transferred to East Kalimantan.

"Nusantara is not suitable as the name of the new capital city," said Fadli Zon via his Twitter account @fadlizon.

Fadli Zon instead suggested that the name IKN be taken from the name of the President such as the Capital of Kazakhstan. Namely, the name of the new state capital is Jokowi.

"Nusantara has its own meaning as an Indonesian territory, not to mention there is 'Insight of the Archipelago'. My suggestion is to name the capital city immediately 'Jokowi'. It is the same as the capital of Kazakhstan Nursultan (from the name of President Nursultan Nazarbayev)," said Fadli Zon.

According to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), Nusantara is the name for the entire territory of the Indonesian Archipelago. The term 'Nusantara' itself was born during the Majapahit Kingdom around the 14th century. At that time 'Nusantara' was used in a political context. Nusantara is a term for areas outside or that have not been conquered by the Majapahit Kingdom.

Quoting Kompas, politically, the archipelago consists of a group or series of islands located between the continents of Asia and Australia, even including the Malay Peninsula. Majapahit then categorized the area as Nusantara.

In addition, the Archipelago was also mentioned by Gajah Mada in the Palapa Oath. He took the oath during the ceremony for the appointment of Gajah Mada to become Patih Amangkubumi Majapahit.

"If I have defeated Nusantara, I (will) break my fast. If I beat Desert, Seram, Tanjung Pura, Pahang, Dompo, Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, that's how I (will) break my fast," following the translation of the Palapa Oath.

Nusantara comes from the ancient Javanese language, namely 'Nusa' which means island and between means other or across. You could say, Nusantara means a series of islands.

Citing a journal entitled The Term Indonesia: Its Origin and Usage by Justus M. van der Kroef, the term Nusantara was revived by Ki Hajar Dewantara as an alternative name for an independent country that was the successor to the Dutch East Indies. Even though this country was finally approved as having the name 'Indonesia', the term Nusantara is still known today.

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