History Of The Term Nusantara

Nusantara is a term that is often used to refer to Indonesia. 

This name originated long before Indonesia existed. 

Quoted from the Madjapahit Legislation (1967), the name Nusantara was born during the Majapahit Kingdom around the 14th century. 

Nusantara was used in a political context. 

Politically, the archipelago consists of a group or series of islands located between the continents of Asia and Australia, even including the Malay Peninsula. 

The area was categorized by Majapahit as Nusantara. 

Nusantara is recorded as spoken by Gajah Mada, the governor of Majapahit. 

Gajah Mada said it through an oath known as the Palapa Oath. 

He took the oath during the appointment ceremony as Patih Amangkubumi Majapahit. 

Palapa's oath reads "But if you lose to Nusantara, isun amukti palapa, but lose to desert ring, Seran ring, Tanjung Pura, Haru ring, Pahang ring, Dompo, Bali ring, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, Samana isun amukti palapa.

" It means, "If I have defeated Nusantara, I (will) break my fast. 

If I beat Gurun, Seram, Tanjung Pura, Pahang, Dompo, Bali, Sunda, Palembang, Tumasik, then I will (only) break my fast.

" Part of Java (Central Java and East Java) at that time was not included in the term "Nusantara" referred to by Gajah Mada. 

This was because the kingdoms in Java were already directly under the reign of Majapahit. 

At that time, there were seven kingdoms on the island of Java that enforced the Majapahit rule. 

The seven kingdoms are Singasari, Daha, Kahuripan, Lasem, Matahun, Wengker, and Pajang. 

Therefore, Nusantara is used to refer to areas outside Majapahit that need to be conquered. 

Nusantara consists of the words nusa which means islands, namely islands, and between which means other or across. 

After Majapahit disbanded, the term Nusantara was forgotten. 

The archipelago was only used again in the 20th century. The national education figure who founded Taman Siswa, Ki Hajar Dewantara, popularized it again. 

Nusantara is used as an alternative to Nederlandsch Oost-Indie or the Dutch East Indies. 

Until now, the term Nusantara is still often used as an Indonesian equivalent.