Megawati's visit to India
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is in the midst of a 4-nation tour of China, South Korea, North Korea and India.
Apparently the visit to India has a more personal character rather than anything else for Megawati. It is more appropriate to describe it as a sentimental journey.
The Indonesian delegation may see for itself the viability of India's economy with an annual growth of 10 percent, according to officials. There have been and still are many hurdles in bilateral relations between Indonesia and India, but trade ties have grown at a considerable pace.
Bilateral cooperation in the past included Indian technical assistance in the military field or rather in the training of Indonesian military aircraft pilots by Indian personnel.
For President Megawati the visit perhaps brings to life a memory of the past when, as a child, she met with Indian leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter Indira Gandhi while accompanying her father the late president Sukarno.
No two countries are closer in spirit as Indonesia and India.
The nonaligned movement aimed at creating peace between the warring East and West at the time, have come among others things from their mind. The influence of the Ahimsa movement created by India's legendary leader Mahatma Gandhi inspired Indonesian nationalist leaders to fight with courage and vigor against the Dutch colonial rulers.
The two nations today are facing similar problems of over population and sectarian violence. But India has now become an industrial giant in its own right with export mainly to Middle Eastern and African countries.
Indonesia is still struggling to keep its head above the economic devastation of the recent past which includes a heavy foreign debt burden. Perhaps Indonesia can learn from India about coping with the correct way to finance a state budget without relying on foreign aid. Also, Indonesians can learn from Indian leaders that it is possible to live a modest life style as opposed to luxurious one so many here seem to prefer. Surely, there is some degree of corruption in India, too, but the level is tolerable compared to conditions in Indonesia.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta