Keraton Majapahit Formulates Nusantara Alphabet, Ministry of Education Encourages More Extensive Testing

Fadli said Indonesia has about 1,340 ethnic groups and 718 languages. Meanwhile, the variation of the Nusantara alphabet is estimated to reach 15 to 30. (IST)

JAKARTA - The development of the Nusantara Alphabet has begun to enter the socialization and testing stage to the public. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon welcomed the effort, but emphasized that public acceptance remains an important factor.

This was conveyed by Fadli when visiting the Majapahit Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday, August 12.

Aksara Nusantara was formulated by the Keraton Majapahit Jakarta together with a number of experts from the University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, State University of Jakarta, Diponegoro University, UIN Alauddin, and language activists.

Fadli said Indonesia has about 1,340 ethnic groups and 718 languages. Meanwhile, the variation of the Nusantara alphabet is estimated to reach 15 to 30.

"Our alphabet has variations of approximately 15 to 30 variations. We know that there is Javanese Alphabet, Balinese Alphabet, there is Sunda, there is Makassar, there are many more of our alphabets," said Fadli.

According to Fadli, diversity opens up room to find common ground and formulate a form that can be the result of synergy from various characters.

"What Aksara Nusantara team is doing is trying to find common ground and make one formulation. This is an effort to create one synergy and also one synthesis of diversity," he said.

The Chairman of the Majapahit Palace Jakarta, General TNI Purnawirawan A.M. Hendropriyono, said the formulation of Aksara Nusantara had gone through a process of about one year.

The socialization was also filled with the presentation of the history of the Majapahit Kingdom and the Banjar Sultanate, art performances, video screenings, and demonstrations of reading and writing the Nusantara Alphabet.

The program is aimed at introducing the alphabet to the education world and the younger generation as part of learning culture, history, and identity.

However, Fadli assessed that the development of Aksara Nusantara still needed to be tested more widely before being implemented further.

According to Fadli, public acceptance is an important part of the process.

"This is part of innovation, part of development, that we must continue to adapt to the times," said Fadli.

He added that the richness of the Indonesian language and culture needs to continue to be introduced to the world.

The activity was also attended by Guntur Soekarnoputra, Rector of UIN Alauddin Makassar Mustari Mustafa, the Ministry of Culture, representatives of kingdoms and palaces, teachers, and students.