Renovation Complete, Istana Gebang Unveils New Look

The Istana Gebang cultural heritage area on Jalan Sultan Agung, Blitar City, East Java, has officially unveiled its new look. The inauguration marks the completion of a renovation project worth Rp 4.1 billion, which took more than six months to finish. The highlight of the inauguration was the unveiling of a statue of Bung Karno posed reading a book on a chair. The new 5-metre-tall statue replaces the old standing figure. The latest Bung Karno statue was created by Dunadi, an artist from Bantul, Yogyakarta. In her speech, PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri recalled Bung Karno’s struggle as a political prisoner for a total of 22 years during the Dutch colonial era and the New Order period. “I calculated that from the time he entered politics, Bung Karno was imprisoned, in and out, exiled three times. And it turned out the time he was exiled as a young man was 22 years,” Megawati stated at Istana Gebang on Monday (15/6/2026). “Just imagine if you now think about enduring what Bung Karno went through, you would surely answer, I am not capable,” she added. East Java PDIP Chairman Said Abdullah explained that the East Java PDIP executive board collectively funded the Istana Gebang renovation. The entire renovation budget of Rp 4.1 billion came from the internal board of the East Java PDI Perjuangan. “The costs were raised through mutual cooperation from all party board members. Rp 4.1 billion. It covers everything. A total renovation,” Said stated. Said also explained that the Istana Gebang renovation had long been initiated by PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri due to its high historical value. “That is where the idea actually came from. So she instructed the East Java PDIP board to carry out the renovation. We coordinated with the mayor and they welcomed the renovation. So we renovated it,” stressed the Chairman of the House Budget Committee. Once declared complete, the renovation results were fully granted to the Blitar City Government as the site manager. The inauguration ceremony was enlivened by a Grebek Pancasila dance, the Garudheya Sakti dance drama, a video screening of Istana Gebang, a moment of silence led by PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto, the reading of the Pancasila text by Blitar City PDIP Branch Secretary Sugeng Praptono, the reading of a dedication of life by Blitar Regency PDIP Branch Chairman Guntur Wahono, and concluded with the handover of tree seedlings to the city and regency branches. A number of PDIP political figures attended, including Djarot Saiful Hidayat, Puti Guntur Soekarno, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, Deni Wicaksono, Prananda Prabowo, Romy Soekarno, Armuji, and other East Java board and branch officials.