Stress on strengthening India-Indonesia ties

Itanagar: The week-long International Youth Leadership camp will strengthen age-old bilateral ties between India and Indonesia, said noted Gandhian from Indonesia Agus Indra Udayana, known as Guruji.

Udayayan, running a Gandhi ashram in Bali since 1977, said that India was very helpful with king Sukarrn for the country to get freedom and the Gandhian philosophy taught Indonesian Atithi Devo Bhavo spirit.

“The Gandhian philosophy is flourishing in Indonesia rapidly, but this camp though with few hundred gathering from Nepal and rest of India is indication of their strong bond, he told reporters at the sidelines of the camp, which began since Wednesday at Kalaktang in West Kameng district.

On his experience during last three days, he said that Kalaktang is a model as peaceful Monpa tribe is leading a life by balancing their livelihood with nature, which Gandhihi had advocated.

“It is a beautiful place with scenic beauty and the local inhabitants deserve credit for preserving it,” he said.

On how Hindu temples are surviving in Indonesia, he said, “god fearing Indonesians protect places of worships as heritage without destroying them as they are believers of Lord Shiva.

“Though over 90 per cent Indonesian is Muslim, but 95 per cent Bali residents are Hindu. The traditional cap, (locally called udeng) on touching the forehead symbolizes Lord Shiva’s third eye and such dresses are mandatory for all even in offices and schools during full moon and full dark night,” informed the Jamanlal Bajaj award winner.

“Gandhiji’s movement against racial discrimination by the Britishers in South Africa and against untouchability in India through styagraha (non-violence) is a model followed across the world for peaceful co-existence. That is why Indonesia is celebrating it,” Wayan Sari Dika, a post graduate in communication science and director Gandhi Vichar Studies in Indonesia said.

Terming their experience at Kalaktang as ‘excellent’, yoga experts Komang Edi Susanta and Herawati, both from Indonesia, said that the people, the weather and the nature in full blown impressed us too much.

Susanta and Herawati, pursuing their post graduation in yoga and health, have won many laurels including topping in all Indonesia yoga completion in 2016. The week-long camp is being organized by National Youth Project.