Indian, Indonesian writers celebrate common heritage (Lead)

Jakarta, Aug 11 (IANS) Indonesian and Indian writers have come together in a book, a compendium that celebrates the common heritage of the two countries. The book discusses a host of issues and gives Indonesian and Indian perspective on similar issues.

Edited by Gurjit Singh, India’s ambassador to Indonesia, “Masala Bumbu”, gives Indonesian and Indian perspective on similar issues of the nations separated just 80 km from their northern and southern ends.

According to the ambassador, the title Masala Bumbu was chosen because it shows, “we have things in common, yet view them differently.”

The word for spice in Hindi is ‘masala’ and in Indonesia’s official language of Bahasa it is ‘bumbu’.

The book discusses various issues such as security, sustainable development, the consuming middle class, the Indian Ocean, non-traditional threats, civil society, human resource development, culture and media and corporate social responsibility and on each of the topic presents the view point of an Indian and Indonesian writer.

The book launched in the Indian embassy in Jakarta on Monday, is aimed to serve as a guide for policy makers, journalists, students of International studies and common readers who are interested in India and Indonesia and is an important landmark for “Sahabat India” – The Festival of India in Indonesia.

Eminent personalities present at the launch included Sachin Gopalan, group chief editor of Berita Satu Media, Indonesian entrepreneur Gita Wirjawan and former Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal.

The book is a unique initiative to engage Indian and Indonesian intellectuals on issues that both the countries will encounter in next decade.