Urban Multiculturalism and SDG 11: The Role of Little India in Promoting Inclusive City Development in Medan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21111/dauliyah.v11i2.21Keywords:
Little India, Localizing SDGs, Medan City, SDG 11, Urban MulticulturalismAbstract
The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the local level is a key factor in supporting inclusive and sustainable urban development. One example of this can be seen in the Little India or Kampung Madras area of Medan, which embodies cultural diversity and the enduring identity of the Tamil Indian community. This study aims to examine the characteristics of Little India as a multicultural space, analyze its contribution to achieving SDG 11, and identify opportunities and challenges for its development as an ethically inclusive area. The research employs a qualitative method, drawing on a literature review and documentary analysis of policy documents, government publications, and various academic references. The analysis combined the concepts of Urban Multiculturalism and Localizing the SDGs. The results of the study indicate that Little India functions as a space for cross-cultural interaction that supports the preservation of Tamil Indian cultural heritage whilst strengthening Medan's identity as a multicultural city. This area contributes to achieving SDG 11 by strengthening social inclusion, preserving cultural heritage, and providing public spaces accessible to diverse community groups. In addition to its social and cultural value, Little India can also support the local economy through trade, culinary activities, and cultural tourism. These findings indicate that preserving local culture can play a vital role in achieving inclusive and sustainable urban development.
References
Ahn, B. (2024). The politics of living-with-difference: Local perception of diversity and coexistence around participatory place-making in a multiethnic neighbourhood. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 42(3), 458–475. https://doi.org/10.1177/23996544231207731
Ash Amin. (2002). Ethnicity and the multicultural city: living with diversity. Environment and Planning A, 34, 959–980. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1068/a3537
BPS Kota Medan. (2025). Ekonomi Kota Medan Tahun-2024 terhadap Tahun-2023 mengalami pertumbuhan sebesar 5,07 persen (y-on-y) - Badan Pusat Statistik Kota Medan. Badan Pusat Statistik Kota Medan. https://medankota.bps.go.id/id/pressrelease/2025/03/03/181/ekonomi-kota-medan-tahun-2024-terhadap-tahun-2023-mengalami-pertumbuhan-sebesar-5-07-persen--y-on-y-.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Dinas Kominfo Kota Medan. (2024). Wujudkan Medan Kota Global, Inklusif, Maju dan Berkelanjutan, Perlu Dukungan Semua Stakeholder Pembangunan. Pemerintah Kota Medan. https://portal.medan.go.id/berita/wujudkan-medan-kota-global-inklusif-maju-dan-berkelanjutan-perlu-dukungan-semua-stakeholder-pembangunan__read4423.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Dinas Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Kota Medan. (n.d.-a). Kawasan Kampung Madras – Cagar Budaya Medan | Cagar Budaya Medan. Retrieved July 11, 2026, from https://cagarbudayamedan.com/sites/kawasan-kampung-madras-medan
Dinas Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Kota Medan. (n.d.-b). Kuil Shri Mariamman – Cagar Budaya Medan | Cagar Budaya Medan. Retrieved July 11, 2026, from https://cagarbudayamedan.com/sites/kuil-shri-mariamman
Fincher, R., & Iveson, K. (2008). Planning and diversity in the city: Redistribution, recognition and encounter. Palgrave Macmillan.
Fox, S., & Macleod, A. (2023). Localizing the SDGs in cities: reflections from an action research project in Bristol, UK. Urban Geography, 44(3), 517–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723638.2021.1953286
Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities | United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2026, from https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals/sustainable-cities-and-communities
Hidayati, I. (2021). Urbanisasi dan Dampak Sosial di Kota Besar. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Sosial, 7(2), 212–221. https://doi.org/10.23887/JIIS.V7I2.40517
Hotman, F., & Damanik, S. (2024). Multicultural Life in Medan City: Dynamics, Challenges, and Opportunities. MUKADIMAH, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.30743/mkd.v8i1.8503
Jönsson, K., & Bexell, M. (2021). Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals: The case of Tanzania. Development Policy Review, 39(2), 181–196. https://doi.org/10.1111/DPR.12497;WEBSITE:WEBSITE:PERICLES;ISSUE:ISSUE:DOI
Klopp, J. M., & Petretta, D. L. (2017). The urban sustainable development goal: Indicators, complexity and the politics of measuring cities. Cities, 63, 92–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CITIES.2016.12.019
Küfeoğlu, S. (2022). SDG-11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. 385–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07127-0_13
kumparanNEWS. (2025, August 18). Melihat Kampung Madras, Wajah India Kecil di Tengah Kota Medan. Kumparan.Com. https://kumparan.com/kumparannews/melihat-kampung-madras-wajah-india-kecil-di-tengah-kota-medan-25gbuPlNCMZ/2
Kurniawan, A. (2020). THE HISTORY OF KAMPONG MADRAS DEVELOPMENT IN MEDAN. Border: Jurnal Arsitektur, 2(2), 95–106. https://doi.org/10.33005/BORDER.V2I2.68
Kymlicka, W. (1996). Multicultural Citizenship: A Liberal Theory of Minority Rights. In Multicultural Citizenship. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/0198290918.001.0001
Leal Filho, W. (2020). Viewpoint: accelerating the implementation of the SDGs. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 21(3), 507–511. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2020-0011
Perpres No.59 Tahun 2017 tentang SDGs – SDGs Indonesia. (n.d.). Retrieved June 6, 2026, from https://sdgs.bappenas.go.id/tag/perpres-no-59-tahun-2017-tentang-sdgs/
Prakasita, D. N., & Harianto, S. (2017). MASYARAKAT MULTIKULTUR PERKOTAAN MASYARAKAT MULTIKULTUR PERKOTAAN ( Studi Relasi Antaretnis dalam Kegiatan Ekonomi di Wilayah Perak Surabaya ). Jurnal Paradigma, 5(3), 1–9.
Pratama, M. A., & Faridah. (2024). Dakwah Multikultural, Toleransi Beragama dan Forum Kerukunan Umat Bergama (FKUB) di Kota Medan. Indonesian Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 5(2), 711–728. https://doi.org/10.33367/IJHASS.V5I2.5517
Purwantiasning, A. W., Bahri, S., Putri, A. H., Mc Adam, I. T. S., Anjani, A. R., Faqi, G. A. Al, & Riyupi, G. P. (2025). KARAKTERISTIK RUANG KOTA LITTLE INDIA, SINGAPURA. Samudra Biru. https://books.google.co.id/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6eFeEQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=karakteristik+Little+India+sebagai+kawasan+multikultural+di+Kota+Medan%3B&ots=0vDvs6myoh&sig=hoUAfo6pDCDOUOJCE1hXFsukruw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Qomaruddin, & Sa’diyah, H. (2024). Kajian Teoritis tentang Teknik Analisis Data dalam Penelitian Kualitatif: Perspektif Spradley, Miles dan Huberman. Journal of Management, Accounting, and Administration, 1(2), 77–84. https://doi.org/10.52620/JOMAA.V1I2.93
Rahardjo, M. (2017). Studi kasus dalam penelitian kualitatif: konsep dan prosedurnya. http://repository.uin-malang.ac.id/1104
Rizky Prayoga, D., Leontinus, G., Debora Ginting, T., & Nelwita Damayani, W. (2021). KERUKUNAN HIDUP MASYARAKAT DALAM BINGKAI MULTIKULTURAL DI KAMPUNG MADRAS KOTA MEDAN. Jurnal Samudra Geografi, 4(1), 30–38. https://doi.org/10.33059/JSG.V4I1.3053
Sahfutra, S. A. (2021). Diaspora Komunitas Tamil di Sumatera Utara: Antara Menjadi India atau Indonesia. Jurnal Sains Sosio Humaniora P-ISSN, 5, 2580–1244.
Siregar, R. A., Dora, N., & Syam, N. F. (2025). Enkulturasi dan Adaptasi Budaya Etnik Masyarakat India Medan. Formatif: Jurnal Pendidikan Sosial Dan Humaniora, 2(01), 35–46. https://glonus.org/index.php/formatif/article/view/266
Sterling, E. J., Pascua, P., Sigouin, A., Gazit, N., Mandle, L., Betley, E., Aini, J., Albert, S., Caillon, S., Caselle, J. E., Cheng, S. H., Claudet, J., Dacks, R., Darling, E. S., Filardi, C., Jupiter, S. D., Mawyer, A., Mejia, M., Morishige, K., … McCarter, J. (2020). Creating a Space for Place and Multidimensional Well-Being: Lessons Learned from Localizing the SDGs. Sustainability Science, 15(4), 1129–1147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-020-00822-w
Vertovec, S. (2007). Super-diversity and its implications. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 30(6), 1024–1054. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870701599465
Downloads
Submitted
Accepted
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dauliyah Journal of Islamic and International Affairs
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
