Scooping Inspiration in India

(South to South Exchange Program to India)

India one of the neighboring countries of Indonesia has a rapid development of information technology that the world considers about. The cooperation and solidarity among youth of these two countries located in the Asian region are expected to be established and to contribute to each countries for the achievement of international development objectives, as stated in SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Of course, the country with the world's 2nd largest population also has social and cultural problems in the lives of its people.

South-to-South Exchange Program to India fully supported by Ecumenical Scholarship Program Brot-für-die-Welt, Germany, on 19-27 December 2017 was held to support the reasons mentioned above, particularly facilitating youth of the two countries to meet each other. Eight participants from Indonesia are Bambang Sumbodo, Ariani Narwastujati, Trustha Rembaka, Yohanes Dian Alpasa, Indah Theresia, Elisabeth Uru Ndaya, Jimmy Nover Putu and Anggita Getza Permata. They attended discussions and did exposures with Student Christian Movement in India (SCMI).

Bangalore,

This city became the starting point of all activities that began with welcoming, introducing each other and a session delivered by Rev. Godson, a pastor of Methodist Church in India, who researched the benefits of palm trees/lontar (B. Flabellifer). This tree is known as tuak, lontar or siwalan crops in Indonesia. During students dialogue, Stube-HEMAT presented the activities and dynamics of Christian youth service in Indonesia. Furthermore, SCMI India activists described SCMI as the oldest ecumenical youth organization in India because it was formed since 1912 and experienced in serving young people in India based on the love of Christ for every human being. SCMI activity covered thirteen regions of India started from local unit level in campus, church and city, region and national level.

Celebrating Christmas with the family of SCM India was a wonderful moment to remember. Talents of children and performances of youth and students through dancing, singing and drama were displayed. The students of Stube-HEMAT Indonesia presented drama and singing either. Christmas message was delivered by Prof. Kiran Jeevan from St. Petersburg Joseph College, Bangalore, who invited everyone to contemplate, whether everyone has done good things for others. Christmas, December 25, 2017, Stube-HEMAT attended a service at St. Mark Church, Bangalore. This church has got lots of influences from United Kingdom in its architecture and church’s denomination.

The Ahmadiyya community of Bangalore provided an opportunity for participants to make interfaith dialogue.This community often held social activities and cooperation with other multicultural communities in the city because they wanted to show that Islam is a loving religion for all mankind in the world, not a radical group which is identical with terrorism.

It should be admitted that the city is concerned well with public spaces with many urban parks overgrown with shady trees even though the city's traffic is quite mazy and noisy with vehicles’ horn.

Mysore,

On the way to Mysore, still in Karnataka state, Indonesian-Indian participants visited Sri Nimishamba temple where visitors are required to put off their footwear even still at the temple’s yard. There is an interesting billboard here regarding the prohibition of plastic use in the temple area.

The Sultan Tippu summer palace became the next visit. Built in 1784, the palace is preserved its authenticity as well as the magnificent and well-maintained Catholic Church St. Filomena.

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Garden is a large and shady zoo, where the Sultan of Tippu kept his captured animals. The zoo also did strict control over the use of plastic bottles of drinks brought by visitors.

Finally, Amba Vilasa palace, the magnificent palace of Sultan of Tippu with its gigantic pillars, carved doors and paintings on the palace ceiling welcomed thousands of tourists who were stunned by the beauty of the buildings and heritages.

Ooty,

The city is located in the highlands of Tamil Nadu state, southern India. The bus trip from Bangalore to Ooty was usually 7 hours however it became 12 hours, due to traffic jams. The journey traversed straight and winding road through towns, villages, fields and Bandipur and Mudumalai national parks.

Ooty located more than 300 km south of Bangalore became a tourist destination because it has interesting places like tea plantation, lakes, chocolate making and eucalyptus distillation. The large number of visitors with four-wheeled vehicles on the narrow and winding roads with cliffs on the left and ravines on the right passing through tea plantations caused total congestion. This area needed to be rearranged for its road management and area’s carrying capacity.

Hosur,

The next learning is Indian rural life by visiting Hosur, a small town in Tamil Nadu state, 45 kms to the east of Bangalore. Rev. Sudhakar Joshua, pastor of CSI (Church of South India) in Hosur picked up and guided the Indonesian-Indian participants to a village church built in 1908 and it is still used until now. Some of the furnitures and inscriptions showed the old of this church.

There is a uniqueness found when visiting a house in Edayanallur village, the villagers watered the house yards with mixture of cow dung and water to sterilize their house from insects. They enthusiastically welcomed and joined the dialogue even though it was the first meeting. In addition they also showed the rose garden that became the livelihood income for one of family there. Even though they lived with limitation, they still have a hope for their future.

What an inspiring journey to keep life in harmony! (TRU).