Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

In considered one of his first visits to Indonesia, the Island nation with the biggest Muslim inhabitants on the planet, Dr. Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi was launched to an individual named Vishnu on the airport. This academician from Kashmir took him as a Hindu since he was named after the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu and greeted him accordingly. To his utter shock, Vishnu turned out to be a Muslim.

This academician from Kashmir was in for a lot of extra such surprises throughout his frequent travels to the Island nation as a Visiting college on Islamic research and philosophy in numerous Indonesian Universities for 5 years between 2015 and 2020.

“It’s common to find the Hindu sounding names like Vishnu or “Ironi” of native Muslims in Indonesia,” he mentioned.

Hamidulla Marazi, who is understood by his pen title Hamid Nasim Rafiabadi has additionally delivered lectures on Indian and Gandhian Philosophy in numerous universities. He says “The people, there are also interested in Buddhist and Muslim Philosophy of India”.

The Statue of Garuda at Jakarta Aitport

Dr. Naseem is an professional in non secular research, has authored books and analysis papers on inter-religious points, and traveled the world over to check faith and societies. Till just lately, he was the Director of the International Centre for Spiritual Studies of the Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Kashmir.

He is related to the National Academic Accreditation Council (NAAC) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and is the convener of the Forum for Inter-religious Understanding, New Delhi.

Speaking about his frequent visits to Indonesia with Awaz-the voice, Hamid Naseem mentioned that its folks have preserved the age-old traditions of Buddhism and Hinduism and like temples and monasteries.

They are additionally fascinated by Yoga and comply with a singular precept of  Pancasila, 5 ideas – perception in God, philanthropy, Indonesian nationwide unity, democracy, and social justice.

Dr Hamid Naseem Rafiabadi with Indonesian college students of Islamic Studies

“Indonesia seems very close to India in many respects”, Hamid Naseem commented saying that many locations, from the nation’s academic capital Yogyakarta to (its) capital, Jakarta have “Indian names”

Yogyakarta is a metropolis on Java island and is understood for its conventional arts and cultural heritage. Its ornate 18th-century royal complicated, or Kraton, encompasses the still-inhabited Sultan’s Palace. Also throughout the Kraton are quite a few open-air pavilions that host classical Javanese dance reveals and live shows of gamelan music.

Hamid Naseem is a visiting professor at many Universities in Yogkarta, a metropolis with the best variety of Universities on the planet. Yogyakarta is situated at one hour flight from Jakarta and derives its title from its Sanskrik previous. “Yog Jakarta with 150 universities in the city of knowledge”, he mentioned.

Different universities the place Prof Hamid Naseem delivered his lectures included Gadjah Madah University (UGM), Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), and Universitas Muhammadiyah Jogjakarta (UMY).

Garuda Wisnu Kencana statue,the tallest statuy of a Hindu deity is situated at Kuta Selatan, Indonesia

The nation has additionally named its nationwide airline “Garuda Airlines” after the Hindu idea of Garuda (the automobile of Vaishno) the god of energy and vigilance.

While Hinduism and Buddhism have been being adopted within the nation of islands, it was influenced by Islam with Muslim businessmen from Gujarat and elements of South India together with Tamil Nadu. This occurred primarily as a result of ethical and non secular character of the Muslim businessmen frequenting the area about seven to eight centuries in the past, Prof Hamid Naseem opined. “They (Indonesians) have preserved a temple that was found during the foundation laying of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) in the 20th century”, Prof Hamid Naseem mentioned.

“They preserved to honour a religious community and kept it as a museum. That much respect they have for other religions”.  

The neighbouring Malaysia, in response to Prof Hamid Naseem, has additionally many widespread issues with Indonesia, as he has additionally visited as a useful resource individual on the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), International Islamic University, Malaysia. He delivered lectures on integration, workshops on textbook writing, integration of information, and different associated themes.

“Indian influence is very much visible (in Malaysia) … People from Chennai and other parts of South India have gone there. There are hotels manned by people from Tamil Nadu and South India. They have their temples and other places of interest”, Hamid Naseem commented.

He added that there’s an imprint of the Sanskrit language in each the Indonesian (Bhasha) and Malay languages. Bali, Indonesia, is a Hindu space and a well being resort with stunning surroundings at Kuta Beach. “It is like mini India, where the residents celebrate festivals like Ram Navami, Dussehra…”, he mentioned. “Even a marketplace in Indonesia is known as Ramayana”.

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“There is no religious or communal feeling in that country”, Hamid Naseem mentioned and added that “it is mostly like Kashmir”. Elaborating additional, he mentioned that the Borobudur temple in Indonesia, probably the greatest Buddhist temples is preserved, which is manned and managed by Muslims. The Muslims have maintained many different temples within the island nation which are a magnet for all kinds of vacationers from India and different locations. There are additionally Muslim craftsmen carving out statues for Hindu temples and showcasing these of their retailers.