Prof. Sardjito's Hero's Residence to Be Sold, Hopes to Become a Museum

The residence of national hero Prof. Dr. M. Sardjito in Terban, Yogyakarta City, is to be sold. It is hoped that this house will not be turned into a cafe like the surrounding buildings, but instead become a museum or remain a residential home. Sardjito’s relative, Budhi Susanto (70), who currently lives there, stated that he has offered the inherited building and land to ten parties. Two of them are UGM and UII. Of all those parties, Budhi said he most hopes that UGM or UII will be willing to buy the house. He imagines the house eventually becoming the Sardjito Museum, or even being repurposed as the rector’s official residence. Sardjito himself is known not only as a national hero of Indonesia but also as the first rector of UGM and the third rector of UII. “The most noble use for this house would be as a private residence or bought by UGM or UII to serve as a historical house. If UGM, it can clearly be used as the rector’s residence; if UII, whatever they decide, since Mr. Sardjito was once rector of UII,” he hopes. Budhi declined to mention the exact price of the house. “It’s in the billions,” said Budhi. With its strategic location in the city centre, he is confident the house will still have many interested buyers. However, there is one thing he truly wants to avoid: the house turning into a cafe like the buildings around it. “Of course (after changing hands), it should be renovated well. Or used as the Museum of Professor Dr. Sardjito. Or used for social services like a community health centre. All three capture the spirit of Mr. Sardjito,” he said. Representatives from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) have responded to the news of Sardjito’s legacy house, which is claimed to have been offered to them. UGM spokesperson I Made Andi Arsana, when contacted, said he would first check the information about this. “I will discuss it, yes. There is no information to me yet,” said Made Andi to reporters on Thursday (14/5). In agreement, UII Rector Fathul Wahid said he would confirm this matter to the foundation overseeing the campus. “Thank you for the information. I will forward it to the Foundation. Property purchases are outside the rector’s authority,” said Fathul to reporters. The Indische-style architecture house, a legacy of Sardjito, stands shaded amid the bustle of central Yogyakarta City, specifically in Terban Ward, Gondokusuman Subdistrict. During his lifetime, Prof. Sardjito was known as a doctor, rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), third rector of Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII). He has also been declared a National Hero of Indonesia.