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Young World
GOOD EARTH
Javan jewels
SHALINI BHUTANI
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Java is among the biodiversity hotspots of the world famed for its plant and animal life.
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Photo : Shalini Bhutani
Home cooked delicacies: From fresh local farm produce.
Java is one of the main islands of the Republic of Indonesia. It houses the capital of the country — Jakarta, with claims to be the most populous island in the world. Also it is known for the Java man; the fossil remains of what is believed to be the first specimen of the human who stood erect, was unearthed in East Java in the late 19th century. The name of the island though is believed to be from plants native to the island.
The Indonesian archipelago has the second highest biodiversity in the world, second only to Brazil. The Java island also comes under what is called Sundaland comprising parts of the Indo(nesian)-Malaysian region, which is among the biodiversity hotspots of the world famed for their plant and animal life.
Essentially ethnic
As natural beauty bejewels the island, it also enriches the lives of people as they interact with their living world. This creates other jewels for panacea and palates. The traditional herbal medicines of Indonesia — Jamu, are just as renowned in South East Asia and outside of it as Ayurveda is in South Asia. The people native to the island and also the largest ethnic group in Indonesia are known as Javanese.
They, like many other Indonesians are a people proud of their food. The Java nut itself famed worldwide is used to make a sauce to be eaten with rice and vegetables, while it is also used for medicinal purposes.
The Indonesian dhaba is called a warung and can offer a vast variety for foods. Then again in East Java, there is a vibrant street food culture. It is not unusual to see women perched outside the downed shutters of the local stores after closing time. They lay out a spread of home-cooked delicacies cooked from fresh local farm produce on a mat on the sidewalk. It is served on banana leaves. The spoon is a deftly folded part of the leaf.
But all these treasures are threatened. One is the actual physical destruction of bio-diverse lands through forest felling, large plantations and other habitat-destroying activities. Then there is the threat of eroding cultures with more fast food chains and large brand names making their way into the Indonesian culinary space as they are in India. If you cannot get the local flavours in a place what would distinguish it from another? If diversity dies, so will the many gems of culture and cuisine of peoples.
In collaboration with Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group
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What you can do
Learn more about plants and customs in your own country and others.
Raise your voice against destruction of biodiversity and takeover of food by large MNCs.
Be aware of the biodiversity-based cultures in Asia and other parts of the world.
Make choices of food, medicine and ‘health’ products
Always remember: The way each individual lives can make a difference to the natural heritage and cultural diversity. The two are intrinsically inter-linked
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