Who were Indonesia's ancestors?
Who were Indonesia's ancestors?
From Merdeka
In regards to National Awakening Day (May 20), I would like to
raise the question: Who were our ancestors? This should
strengthen and enhance our consciousness of our identity as a
nation and deepen our sense of unity and integrity.
I. Textbooks tell us that Indonesia's ancestors came from
Yunan and South China in different periods. In formulating a
hypothesis of historical science the influence of other
disciplines like anthropology, archeology, geology and other
sciences, is evident. The hypothesis was made during the Dutch
colonial period, supported by the science and technology of the
year 1900. The hypothesis revealed the following information:
1. Nusantara (now Indonesia) was supposed to have existed and was
first inhabited by the Asian population.
2. Indonesian history started after 400 A.D.
3. According to the (Western) anthropology they knew of three
races, namely Caucasoid (white), Negroid (black) and Mongoloid
(yellow).
4. Nusantara came into existence because the ice of the Glacial
Age melted and caused sea levels to rise. But when it was still
joined together no name was given.
5. The people having dark (brown) skin were not described as a
specific race, perhaps because it was believed they were a
mixture of the existing races.
II. After one century, science made remarkable progress
resulting in numerous discoveries in the fields of archeology,
anthropology, geology and other scientific fields.
1. Archeologist Haris Sukendar wrote that the dynamism and
personality of the nation was reflected from the Megalithical
tradition in Indonesia (our ancestors who lived here 5,000 years
ago).
2. Anthropologist Prof. Dr. Koentjaraningrat in his book
Introduction to Anthropology wrote: Besides the three races
mentioned above, there is the fourth race i.e. Australoid from
Nusantara and Melanesia. They were the pure Indonesian ancestors
who obviously had dark skin.
III. With the progress of modern science and technology up to
the present day, a general hypothesis can be concluded. The
Indonesian ancestors originated from the dark-skinned Australoid
race, who have been linked to Nusantara since the Megalithic age
(approximately 3,000 B.C.).
It is true, Indonesian history (starting 400 A.D.) recorded
migration from Indo-China (Hindus, Mongolese/Chinese, and dark-
skinned people), but their number was very small so that they
were practically absorbed by the indigenous population.
IV. Further research has yet to be conducted to straighten the
legal formulation of origin of the Indonesian ancestors to
establish a universally recognized general hypothesis concerning
the origin of the Nusantara race.
H.M.H. MANGKUPRANATA
Jakarta