|
The recent Congress of Indonesian Diaspora focused on the
collaborations between Indonesia and diasporic Indonesian communities around
the world. An article published in The Jakarta Post on Aug. 20, 2013, lauds
this conference because collaborations between the Indonesian government,
various business circles and diasporic communities may boost Indonesia’s
economy.
A strong emphasis is placed on pulang kampung or “going home”. The conference organizers may have chosen this theme after careful consideration on the assumption that Indonesian communities living abroad may someday return to their homeland, or to contributing in their own ways to their country of origin.
The ties that bind all Indonesians living in Indonesia and abroad are sinuous and based on a concept that Benedict Anderson calls “imagined communities”. In his theory of nationhood, Anderson posits that nations are drawn together in their collective memory of a shared past, to truly “believe in” their nation and, therefore, to act in its interests. In this respect, history and rituals are essential to instill nationalist pride in Indonesian citizens.
In every country, the flag is symbolic of a nation. It represents a country at the United Nations and is especially significant as a beacon of independence for countries with a colonial past such as Indonesia. This flag is flown during solemn ceremonies across the country during our Aug. 17 Independence Day celebrations, from kindergartens to a lavish event at the Presidential Palace. Similar ceremonies are also conducted every Monday at national schools around the country.
Such ceremonies, however, are not enough. Pride in being Indonesian can only be created through education and a personal sense of belonging to a country that is also respected internationally. As a child growing up in Indonesia, I remember being taught to recite the state ideology of Pancasila (belief in one supreme God, humanism, nationalism, popular sovereignty and social justice) and our national motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).
However, a deeper understanding and practical application of these principles was not emphasized in the schools that I attended.
School children and all Indonesian citizens should understand that these unifying principles are crucial to bringing our diverse country together. Our country’s diverse population, rich natural resources and cultural heritage are key aspects that have drawn international attention to this country.
As it is commonly understood, our younger generation is more enamored with popular culture, Facebook and Twitter rather than exploring the rich resources that our country has to offer. Members of our younger generation, who may go abroad to study or begin their careers abroad, need to be armed with this significant knowledge to help promote our country, and to draw them back to Indonesia after they have obtained education and experience overseas. Even if they choose to stay abroad as members of Indonesian diasporic communities, their pride in their country of origin will allow them to maintain close political, economic and social ties with Indonesia.
Opportunities in Indonesia for our diaporic student communities should also be an important factor for the government to focus on in order to reduce a “brain drain”. According to Professor Yohannes Surya, an educator who has groomed our country’s best minds to win various medals in physics and mathematics Olympiads, Indonesia is thriving in brilliant young minds that need to maximize their potential to help build Indonesia’s science and technology sectors.
Surya, himself a brilliant physicist, went on to pursue a master’s and doctorate in physics at the College of William and Mary in the United States after obtaining his undergraduate degree at the University of Indonesia (UI) in 1986. He attained his postgraduate degrees in 1990 and 1994, respectively, and received the highest honors possible for both.
Having completed his tertiary education, Surya began working as a consultant in theoretical physics at the US Nuclear Physics Center in Virginia. Although this work earned him a green card to stay in the US as a permanent resident, he decided to return to Indonesia.
Contrary to the prevailing belief that those who graduate overseas tend to stay abroad, Surya claimed that most scientists who obtained their degrees abroad “long to return to Indonesia, provided that they can contribute their skills and research to help their country”.
One of his former students, Hendra Kwee, who participated in the International Physics Olympiad in 1997 and earned his doctorate in 2007 from the College of William and Mary, is now back in Indonesia to train the current Indonesian physics team for the Olympiad. Others like him would be committed to returning to their homeland when there were laboratories and research centers for them to develop and contribute their skills, he added.
What Surya and the nation’s other scientists need now is public support to make his dreams a reality. To his satisfaction, the Education and Culture Ministry has pledged to provide scholarships for the winners of the International Physics Olympiad. Other initiatives from the private sector will also encourage these exceptional students to return to their homeland.
As Indonesia becomes an important global economic player, it is necessary for the government to gear its efforts toward educating the nation and creating opportunities for Indonesia’s best and brightest minds that make up part of the Indonesian diasporic communities.
After all, as Professor Surya reminded us, “Education is the key to a nation’s advancement. These students deserve the attention and support of various organizations, corporations and the government. In time, they will definitely push Indonesia to the forefront of science and technology.” ●
A strong emphasis is placed on pulang kampung or “going home”. The conference organizers may have chosen this theme after careful consideration on the assumption that Indonesian communities living abroad may someday return to their homeland, or to contributing in their own ways to their country of origin.
The ties that bind all Indonesians living in Indonesia and abroad are sinuous and based on a concept that Benedict Anderson calls “imagined communities”. In his theory of nationhood, Anderson posits that nations are drawn together in their collective memory of a shared past, to truly “believe in” their nation and, therefore, to act in its interests. In this respect, history and rituals are essential to instill nationalist pride in Indonesian citizens.
In every country, the flag is symbolic of a nation. It represents a country at the United Nations and is especially significant as a beacon of independence for countries with a colonial past such as Indonesia. This flag is flown during solemn ceremonies across the country during our Aug. 17 Independence Day celebrations, from kindergartens to a lavish event at the Presidential Palace. Similar ceremonies are also conducted every Monday at national schools around the country.
Such ceremonies, however, are not enough. Pride in being Indonesian can only be created through education and a personal sense of belonging to a country that is also respected internationally. As a child growing up in Indonesia, I remember being taught to recite the state ideology of Pancasila (belief in one supreme God, humanism, nationalism, popular sovereignty and social justice) and our national motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).
However, a deeper understanding and practical application of these principles was not emphasized in the schools that I attended.
School children and all Indonesian citizens should understand that these unifying principles are crucial to bringing our diverse country together. Our country’s diverse population, rich natural resources and cultural heritage are key aspects that have drawn international attention to this country.
As it is commonly understood, our younger generation is more enamored with popular culture, Facebook and Twitter rather than exploring the rich resources that our country has to offer. Members of our younger generation, who may go abroad to study or begin their careers abroad, need to be armed with this significant knowledge to help promote our country, and to draw them back to Indonesia after they have obtained education and experience overseas. Even if they choose to stay abroad as members of Indonesian diasporic communities, their pride in their country of origin will allow them to maintain close political, economic and social ties with Indonesia.
Opportunities in Indonesia for our diaporic student communities should also be an important factor for the government to focus on in order to reduce a “brain drain”. According to Professor Yohannes Surya, an educator who has groomed our country’s best minds to win various medals in physics and mathematics Olympiads, Indonesia is thriving in brilliant young minds that need to maximize their potential to help build Indonesia’s science and technology sectors.
Surya, himself a brilliant physicist, went on to pursue a master’s and doctorate in physics at the College of William and Mary in the United States after obtaining his undergraduate degree at the University of Indonesia (UI) in 1986. He attained his postgraduate degrees in 1990 and 1994, respectively, and received the highest honors possible for both.
Having completed his tertiary education, Surya began working as a consultant in theoretical physics at the US Nuclear Physics Center in Virginia. Although this work earned him a green card to stay in the US as a permanent resident, he decided to return to Indonesia.
Contrary to the prevailing belief that those who graduate overseas tend to stay abroad, Surya claimed that most scientists who obtained their degrees abroad “long to return to Indonesia, provided that they can contribute their skills and research to help their country”.
One of his former students, Hendra Kwee, who participated in the International Physics Olympiad in 1997 and earned his doctorate in 2007 from the College of William and Mary, is now back in Indonesia to train the current Indonesian physics team for the Olympiad. Others like him would be committed to returning to their homeland when there were laboratories and research centers for them to develop and contribute their skills, he added.
What Surya and the nation’s other scientists need now is public support to make his dreams a reality. To his satisfaction, the Education and Culture Ministry has pledged to provide scholarships for the winners of the International Physics Olympiad. Other initiatives from the private sector will also encourage these exceptional students to return to their homeland.
As Indonesia becomes an important global economic player, it is necessary for the government to gear its efforts toward educating the nation and creating opportunities for Indonesia’s best and brightest minds that make up part of the Indonesian diasporic communities.
After all, as Professor Surya reminded us, “Education is the key to a nation’s advancement. These students deserve the attention and support of various organizations, corporations and the government. In time, they will definitely push Indonesia to the forefront of science and technology.” ●
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar