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This article takes as its starting point the early observation that describes the vastness of the research corpus on thecultural history of Indonesia. The vastness of this corpus is, among other things, contributed to by the writings ofWestern scholars. Among those that are considered classics and frequently used as important references are De Hindoe-Javaansche Tijd by N.J. Krom (1950), Nusantara: A History of Indonesia by Bernard H.M. Vlekke (1959), andIndonesia: Trade and Society by J.C. Van Leur (1955). Initial readings find that these Western scholars’ writings oftenraise the question of the role and contribution of Hinduism and Islam in Indonesia. This draws attention to their viewsand standpoint as Westerners on the history of Indonesian culture, especially in the context of comparison betweenHinduism and Islam. This article is written with the purpose of discussing the role and contribution of Islam andHinduism in the history of Indonesia according to the perspective of three Western scholars, namely N.J. Krom, BernardH.M. Vlekke and J.C. Van Leur in the writings mentioned above. This discussion finds that these writings studied aremore inclined to acknowledge the significance of the role and contribution of Hinduism in the history of Indonesianculture, with the presence of Islam said to have not reduced the influence of Hinduism. |
