Megawati calls Surabaya the 'Kitchen of Nationalism'
Jakarta (ANTARA) - PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri has stressed that East Java, particularly Surabaya, holds a vital position in the history of struggle and the formation of the thinking of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, or Bung Karno.
“From an ideological and historical perspective, East Java is very important because Bung Karno was born, raised, and forged himself in East Java. Surabaya, Mojokerto, and Blitar are full of traces of Bung Karno’s struggle. He himself said that Surabaya is the ‘Kitchen of Nationalism’,” Megawati said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
She made the remarks while giving direction at the PDI Perjuangan East Java Consolidation in Surabaya on Sunday.
Megawati said that in Surabaya, Bung Karno completed his education at HBS (Hoogere Burgerschool) while studying under H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto.
In severely limited conditions, Bung Karno lived in a narrow room without windows, lit only by an oil lamp.
Yet it was from that modest place that Bung Karno matured his intellectual thinking and his ideas of struggle.
“Surabaya thus became the place where Bung Karno forged himself into a formidable patriot. From such a young age, 16 years old, he was already imagining and then fighting for an independent Indonesia,” she said.
The fifth president of Indonesia said today’s young generation can learn from Bung Karno about the power of thought, imagination, courage, and struggle.
According to Megawati, Bung Karno is an example of a young person who lived in limitation but possessed a grand vision and far-reaching outlook for the future of his nation.
“Surabaya in 1916 was already a centre of global capitalism. But Bung Karno was able to prove that the world’s greatest colonial power, the Dutch East Indies, could be defeated through Indonesian independence. Make this a lesson for young people to dare to dream. Bung Karno fought as a poor young man, yet he had great aspirations and fought for them,” Megawati said.
Megawati also urged all PDIP sympathisers, members, and cadres to keep their spirit of struggle burning. Whatever challenges they face, she said, cadres must be able to make PDIP one of the most important political forces on the island of Java.
Megawati asked all cadres to make Bung Karno’s thinking and struggle a path of self-forging in carrying out party duties.
“Because Bung Karno himself said that Surabaya is the Kitchen of Nationalism. That means this is a place of tempering and forging for the birth of tough fighters and patriots of the nation,” Megawati said.
Amid today’s political pragmatism, Megawati stressed the importance of the power of ideas, imagination, strategy, and militancy in politics.
According to Megawati, PDIP’s main strength lies precisely in its ideology, fighting spirit, and closeness to and movement with the people at the grassroots.
Therefore, through the consolidation, Megawati ordered all PDIP East Java ranks to further strengthen their base and political work within society.
“Strengthen the grassroots. Make the spirit of Bung Karno’s forging a source of energy, especially in East Java,” she said.
Megawati also reiterated the importance of building emotional bonding, both with the people and among fellow party cadres.
According to her, such bonds are important for strengthening solidarity while maintaining PDIP’s relationship with the public.
Megawati expressed hope that East Java would truly become the ‘Bull’s Pen’ once again, with a target of winning at least as many seats as PDIP achieved in the 2019 election.
She reminded that the militancy of PDIP cadres in East Java has been tested throughout history, including when facing political pressure during the New Order era.
“Remember, even when facing New Order pressure, East Java was present as a breakthrough force. Pandegiling and Sukolilo are proof of the militancy of the East Java bulls,” Megawati said.