Echo in So Much Space: Perspectives on Progress and Peace

It was a rainy morning in Jakarta, and the familiar chaos of the city’s traffic stretched my one-hour journey to what felt like an eternity. The toll roads alone cost 62,000 rupiah—a sum that could easily buy two modest meals for many Indonesians.

The disparity was evident everywhere: the oldest, rickety cars struggling alongside luxury vehicles with flashing strobe lights—signaling the entitlement of government officials or the wealthy. Some even hired police escorts to clear the roads, an unapologetic display of privilege.

When I finally arrived, nature called. I stepped into the mall’s restroom, and that’s where I saw her—a young woman crouched on the floor, scrubbing tiles with a toothbrush. My first thought was confusion. Why was a young girl in the men’s restroom? That question was quickly replaced by a wave of sadness. If our roles were reversed, could I endure this? Could I sit on that floor, scrubbing so close to filth, while people came and went, indifferent to my presence? The image lingered in my mind long after I left the restroom.

The Dignity in Survival

The girl seemed unbothered by the strangeness of the situation.

To her, this might have been just another day, another task, another paycheck. She worked with a quiet resignation, or perhaps quiet strength, accepting a role that society had cast her in. What struck me, though, was the realisation that my sadness and discomfort were reflections of my privilege. I projected onto her my own values of dignity and fairness, values shaped by opportunities she might never have had.

This moment was more than fleeting sadness—it was a conflicted, selfish relief that I wasn’t in her position. I feared the possibility of her recognising the injustice of her situation, but I was equally paralysed by my helplessness in creating a solution. In truth, I benefit from the very systems that perpetuate such disparities, comfortably positioned near the top of this societal hierarchy.

Inequality Rooted in History

Indonesia’s modern inequalities have deep roots in its colonial past. For over 300 years, the Dutch colonial system imposed rigid hierarchies, with Europeans at the top, Chinese middlemen below them, and indigenous Indonesians, or “inlanders,” at the bottom. This stratification wasn’t just economic—it was psychological, embedding a sense of inferiority in the native population (Gurumuda).

Historical accounts suggest that Dutch colonial practices punished defiance and rewarded subservience, shaping a culture of deference to authority. Over centuries, this system may have bred out boldness and resistance, leaving behind a population conditioned to accept inequity. The term “inlander mentality,” while controversial, reflects the lingering effects of this history—a mindset of submission reinforced by decades of systemic oppression (TutorChase).

Modern Manifestations of Structural Inequality

The echoes of this colonial legacy are visible today in both grand and mundane moments. Consider the stark inequalities on Jakarta’s roads, where government officials with flashing lights push others aside or the wealthy hire personal police escorts to clear traffic. These displays of entitlement are met not with outrage but with resignation.

I once witnessed a member of parliament demand to cut the queue at the airport, loudly asserting his importance. As I recorded the incident, expecting others to join me in challenging him, I was scolded—not by the man himself, but by an airport worker. His defense of the politician revealed the extent to which deference to authority is internalized, even by those most harmed by it.

The Role of Culture and Religion

Indonesia’s acceptance of inequality is also shaped by cultural and religious values. Deference to elders and authority figures is often seen as virtuous, and religion reinforces the idea that societal roles are divinely ordained.

A phrase attributed to Voltaire comes to mind: “There is no God, but don’t tell that to my servant, lest he murder me in my sleep” (Goodreads).

This captures the uneasy truth that inequality is maintained not just by systems but by belief in the legitimacy of those systems.

In Indonesia, this belief is deeply ingrained, with cultural and religious frameworks often discouraging resistance.

Empathy Through Reflection

The young woman cleaning the restroom might never have the chance to escape her circumstances, not because she lacks capability, but because the systems around her make upward mobility almost impossible. Her story—and countless others like hers—force us to question the structures that perpetuate inequality.

But this isn’t just about her or Indonesia. It’s about the broader human condition and our complicity in these systems.

My moment of sadness in that restroom was a moment of selfish relief, tempered by helplessness. I benefit from the very hierarchies I critique, unable to offer a solution but unwilling to fully confront my role in their perpetuation.

In a world shaped by chance and circumstance, what responsibility do we bear for the lives of others? This is not an easy question to answer, but it is one we must continue to ask.

References for the Article

1. Dutch Colonialism’s Impact on Indonesian Social Hierarchy
   • During Dutch colonial rule, a strict racial and social hierarchy was established, placing Europeans at the top, Chinese intermediaries below them, and indigenous Indonesians (“inlanders”) at the bottom. This hierarchy not only dictated access to resources but also embedded a psychological sense of inferiority in the native population. This system is widely discussed in Indonesian historical studies and colonial records, such as in Southeast Asia: A Historical Encyclopedia by Ooi Keat Gin.
2. The Concept of ‘Inlander Mentality’
   • The term “inlander mentality” was used during the colonial era to describe the perceived submissiveness of native Indonesians. This concept has been analyzed in works like The Emergence of Modern Southeast Asia by Norman G. Owen, which details how colonial governance suppressed resistance and rewarded compliance.
3. Cultural and Religious Reinforcement of Hierarchies
   • The idea that hierarchical roles are divinely ordained has roots in both Javanese and broader Indonesian traditions, as explored in Power and Politics in Modern Southeast Asia by Damien Kingsbury. This belief is further reinforced by religious teachings that emphasize harmony and submission over conflict.
4. The Voltaire Quote
   • The phrase “There is no God, but don’t tell that to my servant, lest he murder me in my sleep” is attributed to Voltaire, reflecting the uneasy relationship between power, inequality, and morality. It can be found in collections of Voltaire’s works and discussions on his philosophical writings.