Indonesia is a large tropical paradise comprising approximately 14,000 islands, and considered one of the most beautiful places on earth. The richness of the land its heritage has endowed the people with a generous, happy and friendly nature. Indonesian hospitality and kindness is legendary, its probably among the best in the world.

Indonesia the third largest democracy in the world, consists of 300 ethic groups, speaking more than 700 languages. Prominent among the innumerable cultures in Indonesia include javanese, sundanese, balinese, borneo, papua etc. each having thousands of years of history and rich culture.

From 4th Century to 15th Century Hinduism and Buddhism were the dominant belief system in Indonesia. In the 12th and 13th Century Sufi preachers accompanied merchants from India and Arabia converted to Islam the Royal families of Indonesia, Sumatra etc.

It was only a matter of time the population followed and converted to Islam due to a variety of reasons, but the most important was to avoid paying the 'Jizya' tax (imposed on non Muslims).

Over time, being a Muslim carried more privileges, benefits, and a favourable treatment than being a non-Muslim by the State. People needed safety and certainty, so they chose to declare themselves as Muslims.

Though Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, almost equal to that of the entire Arab population, its not a Muslim country. Its laws are largely secular, their constitution is not based on any holy scripture, their court system segregates Islamic laws and national laws, and Islam is not the only state-recognised religion (they have six).

One of the reasons why Indonesia is emerging as an economic and social powerhouse is, the tolerant and secular credentials of the people and the leadership of Indonesia. It is a role model of how Islam can coexist with democracy for a better world if you do not let the clerics dictate politics, economics, the police and military.

The following incident offers interesting lessons.

In 1997 a terrible and massive financial crisis hit Indonesia, that threatened to ruin Indonesia and her sovereignty. The value of the Rupiah plummeted from Rupiah 2600 to 1 US$, to Rupiah 11,000 for each US $. The GDP fell that year by 13.5%.

Inspite of many political and economic actions taken, nothing seemed to work to stop the downward spiral of the value of the Rupiah. A highly respected Indonesian Hindu priest when consulted, suggested, that the only way to stop the financial was to seek divine blessings. So prayers were offered and the image of Lord Ganesh (the Hindu God of prosperity and solver of all problems) were printed on the the 20,000 Rupiah currency notes.

The notes were issued in early 1998 by Bank Indonesia, its central bank. Almost immediately after that, the value of currency stabilised and then started rising. It may be a coincidence or it may be divine providence, but it reflects the openness of thought and action of the Indonesians.

More than a decade ago the Prime Minister of Pakistan on a state visit to Indonesia, told the Government officials of Indonesia, that, they should remove the images of Hindu Deities from the bank notes.

The president of Indonesia replied,

We have changed our religion, not our father.

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Culture and civilisations develop over centuries if not millennia. Take the case of two theocracies, Israel and Pakistan that were born in 1948.

In a theocracy, organised religion is at the very core of a nations's existence, its politics, its social structure, its economic policies and its legal system. History has shown, that by itself religion is insufficient to unite diverse people, unless there was continuous infusion of wealth by economic development or more easily by conquest and loot. This is why the 300 million Arabs of the once all powerful former Ottoman empire would not have been divided over 22 countries, constantly squabbling and warring amongst themselves and everyone else.

That is why both Israel and Pakistan are seriously challenged by, 'how to build their national and civilisational narrative?' Israel has fared well because of its progressive attitude, embracing much of Jewish, Christian, Muslim social, cultural, heritage while simultaneously focussing on secularism, economic prosperity and security.

Pakistan has remained in the clutches of a small group of landowner cum businessmen elites, powerful and wealthy Muslim clerics, and the self serving Pakistani Army leadership to keep the country and their citizens in a state of religious frenzy and hatred. The people have been reduced to live in great poverty with hatred in their hearts and minds for everyone including their own fellow Pakistanis.

Pakistan has always been selling itself to whoever pays them, be it Britain, America, the Arabs, China and even North Korea. Its the universal law of transactions, 'they that accept the money of others have to do their bidding'. Pakistan's leadership, thus makes matters worse and harms the national interests and that of its people.

To counter the continuing social and economic collapse, Pakistan the theocracy has resorted to misguided Islamic nationalism. Terrorism as State policy, has produced a hateful, intolerant, violent, lawless nation. Challenged by capital flight, social unrest and now branded a world pariah, a radicalised Pakistan by all known measures appears to be rapidly sinking into terminal decline. Pakistan as a nation state is in grave danger of disintegration and existential collapse.

A nation and its people always draw upon their sense of cultural and social identity to cope with existential challenges.

The Pakistanis have not been able to build a national and civilisational narrative. Foolishly, the Pakistan state has disowned their true and rich Indian heritage in favour of portraying themselves as Arab, Turkish, Iranian, etc. Though these other cultures are Islamic they remain socially and culturally foreign and therefore impossible for Pakistanis to adopt. Further more Arabs, Turks and Iranian people consider Pakistanis as an inferior race and as second and even third class Muslims, and undeserving of respect.

Thus the Pakistani leadership have led their country into a identity crisis and quagmire. They are neither here nor there, they do not know who or what they are.

The official language is Urdu, spoken by only 8% of the population. Except to be anti-India, anti-West, anti-Israel and just being Muslim, there is no national or civilisational narrative to unite the Pakistani people.

As of now, signs indicate that implosion of Pakistan and its descent into political, economic and social collapse is imminent.
Like a tree, a people that severs itself from its roots is certainly doomed. Yet the Pakistani clerics, politicians and generals promise their people, paradise in this and the after life.