There are 57 independent Muslim states in the World with second largest religious community after Christianity. The Muslim countries also possess ample Natural Resources such as oil, gas, water with geographical superiority. Yet, due to the poor administration, lack of skilled manpower, lack of inclusive democratic system and a unified military force, we have failed to bring about a balance of international power. This is the main cause of our sufferings, if not humiliation.
However, the progress of a few Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan , Turkey, Iran and Malaysia in one field or the other at least give us a ray of hope. Let us start with Indonesia which is the most Muslim populous and the fourth world’s populous country with 38 provinces. Nine of these have special autonomous status. Jakarta, the largest city, is the world’s second most populous urban area. Indonesian society comprises hundreds of ethnic and linguistic groups with Javanese being the largest. The nation’s identify is unified under the motto Bhinnkeka Tunggal ika defined by a national language, cultural and religious pluralism, a history of colonialism and rebellion against it.
After 3 and half century of Dutch colonialism, Indonesia achieved independence in 1945 under the dynamic leadership of Mr Sukarno and Muhammad Hatta, who were the first president and vice president of free Indonesia respectively. Muhammad Hatta was the co-author of Indonesia’s constitution. Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia, was officially declared a Republic. It comprises over 17000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and parts of Borneo and New Guinea. Indonesia is world’s largest archipelagic state and the 14th largest country by area, at 735,358 square miles with over 280 million population.
Keeping such a large country with distinct diversity together, is certainly a remarkable achievement. Sukarno was replaced by Suharto who ruled Indonesia from 1967 till 1998. Sukarno died in 1970 and Suharto in 2008. The nationalist Sukarno was a great statesman and a remarkable revolutionary orator. In addition to independence, his achievements include unity of ethnic groups and internationally recognition of Indonesia. I saw his statues in Amsterdam Museum among the prominent world leaders.
Suharto has also been praised for making Indonesia into an economic success story, bringing stability to the region particularly during the Cold War period, and led Indonesia when it played a significant role in international affairs. Suharto was succeeded by Habibe and he was succeeded by Abdul Rehman Wahid. Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo (born 17 October 1951) is the eighth and current president of Indonesia since 2024. The successive Indonesian leadership is credited with country’s unity, improving educational and economic system. Indonesia’s economy is the largest in Southeast Asia and one of the world’s leading emerging market economies, characterized by strong growth driven by its young, growing population, abundant natural resources like nickel, and increasing industrialization. The economy benefits from a “mixed economy” model, strategic commodity exports, and significant government investment in infrastructure, though it faces ongoing challenges related to productivity, global uncertainty, and the need for increased tax revenue and structural reforms to ensure long-term, inclusive growth.
According to Indonesian Statistics Bureau and Global Data, Life Expectancy has improved in recent years. The Female Life Expectancy is reportedly 74.1 and Male 68.8 years. This indicates improving health system and health life style. Indonesian education is also experiencing growth driven by significant increases in government spending, which has doubled since 2000, leading to increased enrollment in secondary and higher education. Key initiatives include the voluntary adoption and gradual rollout of the new Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) curriculum focusing on teacher empowerment, the expansion of vocational schools, and efforts to attract foreign universities and collaborations. The government also provides scholarships for students to study abroad and encourages private sector involvement in education technology and infrastructure. With continuing stability, Indonesia is likely to improve internally and externally as well. Therefore, we expect Indonesia to play comparatively an effective role towards the Muslim Unity to stabilize the Islamic Block to utilize its potentiality to bring about a Balance of International Power.
Quayyum Raja's full official name is Abdul Quayyum Raja, but the British press shortened his name when he was arrested in connection with an Indian diplomat kidnapped by his fellow KASHMIRIS in Birmingham in 1984 to save the life of a Kashmiri Hero Muhammad Maqbool Butt hanged by India and buried inside Tihar jail on 11 February 1984. Quayyum Raja is from Azad Jammu Kashmir administered by Pakistan. He acquired various qualifications from EU and UK, including a Master in Psychology & Social Sciences, Journalism and Modern World History. He supports both Pan Islam and Pluralism, which may sound a contradiction, but he claims he can draw a balance. Quayyum Raja spent about 22 years in British jail extra-juducially as a Kashmiri political prisoner. He was released by the European Court of Human Rights on 17 May 2005. He has travelled extensively both before his captivity and after his release.
