Handindoeral

Handindoeral is a concept derived from the Indonesian language, where "handindo" represents a portmanteau of the words "hand" from the name of the United Kingdom and "Indonesia". In essence, handindoeral signifies a strategic area or location that serves as a connection between the UK and Indonesia, possibly involving trade, commerce, or diplomatic relations.

Historically, Indonesia was a British colony under the East India Company in the early 19th century. The Dutch subsequently took control before Indonesia declared its independence in 1945. As a result, handindoeral could refer to the island of Borneo, specifically the region of Kalimantan, the western part of which is currently divided between Indonesia and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, which were previously under British colonial rule.

The name handindoeral may be connected to the partition of Borneo between the UK, the Netherlands, and the Sultanate of Brunei in the late 19th century. At this time, the British and Dutch colonial powers negotiated the border between their respective territories in Borneo, which had been divided under the agreement of 1899. It is possible that this 1899 border agreement led to the name handindoeral being used in some administrative or cartographic contexts to describe the contested border regions.

Research into this term has yielded limited sources and interpretations, leading to recurring speculation about its origins and definition. Handindoeral is more of a term of convenience and has not been widely adopted by Indonesian, Malaysian, or British sources. Its significance may be diminished, as most publications and academic studies on the region prefer to use more specific geographic and cultural terms.