Heroes’ Legacy Must Live Beyond Monuments

The government must not leave the entire burden of resolving social problems to communities in the name of gotong royong, or mutual cooperation.

Surabaya, East Java, has many markers of heroism, from the Heroes Monument and history museums to the 10 November commemoration, which revives the courage of the people of Surabaya.

Yet a more important question is how far the courage, sacrifice and unity passed down by the fighters have become a force for resolving society’s problems today.

That question is relevant to the 2026 Heroes’ Day commemoration, which carries the theme “My Hero, My Role Model: Moving Forward Together, Continuing the Struggle”. The theme is not simply a call to remember the past, but a reminder that independence requires an ongoing struggle, renewed to meet the challenges of the times.

Surabaya offers an example of how that spirit is kept alive. The “Suroboyo Wani” Struggle Parade on 1 November 2026 drew around 170,000 spectators. Meanwhile, about 1,000 residents attended the Heroes’ Day ceremony at Surabaya City Hall on 10 November, which featured a large-scale artistic performance involving 300 performers.

Such participation shows that history remains firmly embedded in public memory. But the success of commemorations should not be measured solely by attendance figures and the scale of events; it should also be judged by whether historical memory can be translated into the courage to confront shared problems.

Historical ritual

The Battle of Surabaya on 10 November 1945 was a pivotal event in the struggle to defend independence. The people’s courage in facing British military forces showed that independence had not been granted without sacrifice.

That spirit of resistance underpinned the designation of 10 November as Heroes’ Day through Presidential Decree No. 316 of 1959.

Surabaya was not merely the site of a battle, but an important part of the emergence of national identity. For that reason, the memory of the struggle must be preserved beyond ceremonies, pilgrimages and historical performances.

Surabaya City Government’s invitation to wear clothing inspired by the struggle, pin on red-and-white badges, fly the flag and observe a simultaneous moment of silence brings history closer to everyday life. The suspension of activities for 60 seconds at 8.15 am serves as a reminder of the fighters’ sacrifice.

However, historical commemorations risk losing their depth if ceremony is given greater prominence than the lessons they are meant to pass on. It is not enough for young people simply to know the names of Bung Tomo or Colonel Sungkono.

They need to understand why the fighters were willing to make sacrifices, how unity was built amid differences, and why the nation’s interests must be placed above personal interests.

History education should be brought to life through visits to sites of the struggle, digital documentation, discussions between generations and social activities. History is not just a story about the past; it is a resource for deciding what to do in the present.