Jakarta, Aug 11 (IANS): Indonesian and Indian writers have come together in a book, a compendium that celebrates the common heritage of the two nations.

Authored by Indian ambassador to Indonesia Gurjit Singh, "Masala Bumbu" offers Indonesian and Indian perspectives on similar issues of the nations separated just 80 km from their northern and southern ends.

According to the Indian envoy, the title "Masala Bumbu" was chosen because it reflects "we have things in common, yet view them differently".

The word for spice in Hindi is ‘masala’, it is ‘bumbu’ in Indonesian.

The book discusses various issues such as security, sustainable development, the consuming middle-class, the Indian Ocean, non-traditional threats, civil society, human resource development, culture and media and corporate social responsibility and on each of the topic presents the view point of an Indian and Indonesian writer.

The book, launched in the Indian embassy here on Monday evening, is aimed at serving as a guide for policy makers, journalists, students of international studies and common readers who are interested in India and Indonesia. It is an important landmark for "Sahabat India" - The Festival of India in Indonesia.

Eminent personalities present at the book launch included Sachin Gopalan, the group chief editor of Berita Satu Media, Indonesian entrepreneur Gita Wirjawan and former Indonesian ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal.