Academics and Cultural Figures Agree to Support Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana as National Hero
Support for the proposal to name Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana (STA) as a National Hero in 2026 continues to strengthen. Various academics, cultural figures, historians, and community leaders believe STA’s contributions to building the Indonesian language, literature, education, and culture have had a profound influence on the nation’s journey, making him worthy of the state’s highest honour.
The growing support emerged during a National Seminar titled ‘Examining the Heroic Legacy of Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana: Contributions to Indonesian Literature, Language, Education, and Culture’, held by the Faculty of Language and Literature at Universitas Nasional (Unas) in Jakarta. The event, attended by more than 300 participants, served as a scientific forum to gather data, studies, and academic perspectives to support STA’s nomination as a National Hero. Participants included academics, cultural figures, historians, lecturers, students, teachers, pupils, and community leaders.
Nana Yuliana, Dean of the Faculty of Language and Literature at Unas and chair of the committee, stated that the seminar was a form of respect for STA’s thoughts and struggles, which remain relevant to the nation’s development today. ‘This seminar aims to rediscover Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana’s contributions to the fields of language, literature, education, and Indonesian and international culture. Through this scientific forum, we aim to present various academic perspectives that can strengthen his nomination as a National Hero,’ she said.
According to Nana, STA was one of Indonesia’s reformist figures who played a crucial role in modernising the Indonesian language. During the Japanese occupation, he was the first to systematically compile Indonesian grammar and introduced the MD (Menerangkan–Diterangkan) and DM (Diterangkan–Menerangkan) rules, which became the foundation for the development of modern Indonesian. STA’s contributions are also reflected in monumental literary works such as ‘Layar Terkembang’, ‘Dian yang Tak Kunjung Padam’, and ‘Kalah dan Menang’. Furthermore, his ideas through the Pujangga Baru movement and the Cultural Polemic provided new direction for the development of Indonesian culture and remain relevant in facing global challenges towards the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. In the field of education, STA fought for access to higher education for Indonesians during the Dutch colonial period. He also founded the Yayasan Memajukan Ilmu dan Kebudayaan (YMIK) as a platform for the development of national science and culture.
The seminar was opened by Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, who emphasised that heroism is not only born through physical struggle but also through ideas that can change the course of the nation. ‘We are discussing heroism manifested through the pen, through ideas, and through the struggle to build the nation. One of STA’s greatest legacies is developing the Indonesian language into a modern language. I hope this nomination process runs smoothly so that STA can be designated as a National Hero,’ he said. The seminar also featured several speakers, including national historian Prof Anhar Gonggong, cultural figure Tommy F Awuy, and literary expert Sunu Wasono, who reviewed STA’s various contributions to the nation’s development. Meanwhile, family representative Tamalia Alisjahbana presented the life journey and struggle of STA in building the Indonesian language, education, and national culture. The event was also enlivened by the reading of two of STA’s poems by senior literary figure Taufiq Ismail as a form of respect for his intellectual legacy. Through this seminar, Unas hopes that public and academic support for the nomination of Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana as a National Hero in 2026 will grow wider. STA’s legacy of service in advancing the Indonesian language, literature, education, and culture is a great heritage worthy of being remembered as part of the history of the Indonesian nation’s struggle.