Muslim-majority
Indonesia gifts goddess Saraswati's statue to US
(Press Trust of India Updated: June 09, 2013
14:07 IST)
(A 16-foot
statue of godess Saraswati was installed in Washington DC. It was recently
gifted by Indonesia to the U.S. government .)
Story Highlights
·
Indonesia,
the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, has gifted an
imposing 16 feet statue of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of education and
wisdom, to the American Capital city of Washington DC.
Washington: Indonesia, the country
with the largest Muslim population in the world, has gifted an imposing 16 feet
statue of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of education and wisdom, to the American
Capital city of Washington DC.
The statue of goddess Saraswati on top of a lotus flower, stands tall a block
away from the Indian Embassy in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi which was
installed several years ago.
Just three per cent of Indonesian population is Hindus. Little over a mile from
the Whitehouse, the statue is yet to be formally inaugurated, but has already
become an attraction of city residents and the large number of tourists who
visit the city every day.
"Dewi
Saraswati is one of the Goddesses in Hinduism, the primarily practiced religion
among Balinese people in Indonesia, which itself is the world's biggest
Muslim-majority country.
Yet, her representation at the Indonesian Embassy was not decided out of only
religious grounds, but more because it symbolized values that parallel with
several key principles of Indonesia-US relations under comprehensive
partnership, in particular education and people-to-people contact," a
spokesperson of the Indonesian Embassy told PTI.
A cultural gift from Indonesia to the city of Washington, DC, this statue began
to be constructed mid-April this year by five native Balinese sculptors led by
I Nyoman Sudarwa, wrapped up the job in a mere five-week period.
"Although the official inscription is yet to be honoured, the public can
readily enjoy this 4.9 meter tall statue today by the entrance to the Embassy
building on Massachusetts Avenue," the spokesperson said.
Prior to its installing, the structure of the statue was built in Bali and
later flown to the US Capital in early April 2013.
This steel structure was divided into three parts: upper body, lower body, and
base, the latest consisting a formation of a lotus flower and a white goose.
Furthermore, instead of using bronze or stone, the sculptors opted for a mix of
cement to model the body of the statue.
"At its conclusion, this statue evidently presents a strong flair of
Balinese art as the sculptors put particular touches of gold on the
predominantly radiant white figure, especially on the dress and head accessory
worn by the Goddess," the official said.
In the status, goddess Saraswati is depicted to be having four hands: one holds
an "aksamala" (prayer beads) symbolizing the eternal process of
learning; two play a "vina"(astring instrument) symbolizing arts and
culture; and the last one holds a "lontar"(manuscript) symbolizing
the source of knowledge.
_________________________________________________________________________
Mike Ghouse
Speaker, thinker, writer, pluralist, activist
(Posted: 06/19/2013 4:50 pm)
The Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. has
expressed her relationship with the United States in the most unique way -- by
building a statue of Saraswati, the iconic representation of education in Hindu
tradition on their grounds.
The Statue is 16' tall, in white and Gold carved by
the native Balinese sculptors over a period of three months. The statue, stands
on top of a lotus in front of the Indonesian Embassy a block from the Indian
embassy and a mile from the White House. At her feet are three students; Young
Barack Obama and his classmates while he was in grade school in Indonesia. The
statue is yet to be inaugurated as of today, June 18, 2013 but making heads
turn.
The symbolic statue could mean many things to many
people, as a Pluralist I see the following five significant values expressed.
First, as an Indian American, I welcome this gesture
by the Indonesian Embassy and congratulate them. They have indeed honored
India, my motherland by honoring her Iconic figure; Goddess Saraswati. Bhupen
Ganatra and Amol Mukherjee, the Indian leaders in Dallas add, "That this
is great gift of highest level... awesome gesture by Indonesia expressing the
best of religious harmony and importance of education by a Muslim nation
offering a statue of Hindu Goddess to a mostly Christian nation. For this,
Indonesia should be recognized by all nations... all religions."
As an Indian American Muslim, I am proud of Indonesia
for following the principles taught by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that each one of
us is responsible for the well being of our neighbors, communities, nations and
our world. We all came from a single couple and are made into different tribes,
communities and nations and the best ones among us, God says in Quran are the
ones who learn, understand and respect the others. Dr. Akbar Ahmed, who heads
the ibn-Khaldun chair at the American University and a leading Muslim in
America adds, "These symbolic gestures build upon each other in building
peaceful societies."
First, education is essential in opening people's hearts
and minds towards each other to build cohesive societies, where no one has to
live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other.
Second, the hallmark of civil societies is reflected
by how they treat their minorities, women and children. In this case Indonesia
has symbolically chosen the statute of Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of learning
worshipped by a mere 3 percent of her population, and yet it stands to
represent the relationship between Indonesia and the United States. It's a
powerful message of pluralism -- of respecting the otherness of others and
accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of her citizens.
Third, the same education has led the United States to
choose her president from a mere 13.2 percent of the population. President Obama's
election is historical. Indeed, for the first time in human history, a
qualified person was chosen and accepted to govern the entire populace. Through
this action, America gave hopes to the religious, cultural, racial and
linguistic minorities in the community of nations that everyone who is
qualified can aspire to lead their nation. It was for this reason, the world
cried with joy on the day Mr. Obama was elected as President of the United
States.
At the Parliament of World's religions in Melbourne, Australia
on December 5, 2009, at the conclusionary flag ceremony -- some 200 flags of
nations were placed in the holder. As individuals were picking the flags of
their nations, I requested them not to pick the flag of their own nation, and
instead pick the flag of other nations they consider un-friendly towards their
nation. It was a Joy to see an Israeli Rabbi pick up the Palestinian flag and a
Palestinian Imam pick up the Israeli flag. An Indian picks up the Pakistani
flag and a Pakistani picks up the Indian Flag, and I smiled when the British
held the French flag and vice versa. Unless we learn to be in others shoes, we
cannot shed our prejudices to build better societies. I cannot ask the other to
have ill-will towards me, when I am loaded with it myself.
The idea of the statue was conceived by Indonesian
Ambassador Dr Dino Patti Djalal and was built with the aid of National Economic
Committee and Bali's Badung Regent. "Although the official inscription is
yet to be honored, the public can readily enjoy this 4.9-meter tall statue
today by the entrance to the Embassy building on Massachusetts Avenue."
Explaining the motive behind the cultural gift, a
spokesperson of the Indonesian Embassy told the Press Trust of India (PTI),
"Devi Saraswati is one of the Goddesses in Hinduism; the primarily
practiced religion among Balinese people in Indonesia, which itself is the
world's biggest Muslim-majority country. Yet, Her representation at the
Indonesian Embassy was not decided out only of any religious grounds, but more
on its symbolized values that parallel with several key principles of
Indonesia-U.S. relations under comprehensive partnership, in particular
education and people-to-people contact," a spokesperson at the Indonesian
Embassy told PTI.
I am pleased to share another such step happening in
Dallas, Texas.
Who does not want to see a community or a nation,
where you and I don't have to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the
other? In Hindi and Urdu languages, the closest words to describe pluralism and
cohesive societies are: Vasudhaiva Kutumbukum (वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम),
Anekantvad (अनेकान्तवाद
), Bahimiyat or Taksiriyat ( تَکثیریت
), Sanskat Samaj (संसक्त समाज), and chaspinda Muashira (معاشرہ چسپندہ)
Our poets will capture that sentiment and recite them
at the Poetry session on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at Richardson Civic Center,
Richardson, and will be preserved as a documentary.
Nothing will ever change in the world we live in, if
we do nothing about it. Together we can nurture a culture of acceptance of each
other; it may take twenty years or a full generation to see the visible signs.
But, at least we can feel good, that we were a part of the team that laid a
good foundation for such societies.
