Sukarno

Sukarno – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Sukarno (Soekarno) was the charismatic leader and founding President of Indonesia (1945–1967). Rising from colonial subject to revolutionary, he shaped the political philosophy and direction of modern Indonesia. This article chronicles his life, politics, ideology, legacy, and memorable words.

Introduction

Sukarno (also spelled Soekarno), often affectionately called Bung Karno, is a towering figure in Indonesian history. As the principal proclaimer of independence and first president of Indonesia, his leadership, rhetoric, and political experiments left deep imprints on the nation. His life weaves together anti-colonial struggle, ideological contestation, charismatic nationalism, and tragedy. Even decades after his death, many Indonesians regard him as a founding father whose vision and contradictions continue to spark debate.

Early Life and Family

Sukarno was born 6 June 1901 in Surabaya, in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Koesno Sosrodihardjo.

His father, Raden Soekemi Sosrodihardjo, was a Javanese schoolteacher of priyayi (Javanese gentry) status, from Grobogan, Central Java. Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai, was of Balinese Brahmin descent, from Buleleng, Bali.

He spent his early years moving across Java—Mojokerto, Tulungagung, Blitar—because his father’s assignments moved him. From early on, young Sukarno was exposed to both local traditions and colonial education systems.

Youth and Education

Sukarno’s formal schooling began around 1912. Europeesche Lagere School (a Dutch primary school) in Mojokerto, then Hogere Burgerschool (HBS) in Surabaya.

In 1921, he enrolled in the Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng (now Bandung Institute of Technology), studying civil engineering and architecture. Ir. (engineer) degree in 1926.

During his student days, Sukarno was politically active. He engaged with nationalist circles, absorbed political ideas (socialism, anti-colonialism, Marxism, Pan-Islamism), and began mobilizing youth.

His exposure to modern architecture, anti-colonial thought, and nationalist networks during these formative years helped shape his vision of a modern, independent Indonesia.

Career and Achievements

Rise in the Nationalist Movement

In 1927, Sukarno co-founded the Partai Nasional Indonesia (PNI), a nationalist party seeking self-rule for the archipelago.

During his exile and interactions with various political actors (Islamists, communists, leftists), Sukarno refined his ideas about nationalism, revolution, and unity across diversity.

Under Japanese occupation (1942–1945), Sukarno maneuvered politically. While the Japanese initially suppressed Dutch colonial institutions, they also tolerated some nationalist activities. Sukarno and other Indonesian leaders negotiated with the Japanese to gain concessions. BPUPK (the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence). Pancasila (Five Principles) as the philosophical foundation for the future Indonesian state.

Proclamation of Independence and Early Presidency

On 17 August 1945, following Japan’s surrender, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia’s independence.

In the subsequent Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949), he led diplomatic and military efforts to resist Dutch attempts to reassert colonial control.

Guided Democracy & Authoritarian Turn

In the 1950s, Indonesia adopted a parliamentary democratic model, with frequent cabinet changes and political instability. Presidential Decree on 5 July 1959 dissolving the constitutional assembly and reinstating the 1945 Constitution. “Guided Democracy”.

Under Guided Democracy, Sukarno sought to balance competing ideological forces (nationalists, Islamists, communists), avoid dominance by any party, and project a central, unifying role for the presidency. Nasakom (Nasionalisme, Agama, Komunisme) to synthesize nationalism, religion, and communism.

On the international stage, Sukarno played a leading role in anti-imperialist and nonaligned movements. He hosted the Bandung Conference of Asian and African nations in 1955, a landmark gathering of newly independent states.

He also embarked on bold foreign policy initiatives: confrontation with the Dutch over West Papua, severing ties with Malaysia (Konfrontasi), withdrawing from the United Nations in 1965 for a time, and seeking a new global order (including proposals for CONEFO, a rival to the U.N.).

The Downfall and Final Years

By the mid-1960s, tensions were rising. The 30 September Movement in 1965, which led to the assassination of several army generals, triggered a fierce backlash. The army, under General Suharto, blamed the Communist Party (PKI) and used the crisis to consolidate power.

Sukarno was gradually marginalized. On 11 March 1966, he signed an order delegating “all power necessary” to Suharto. 21 June 1970 in Jakarta.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Dutch colonial rule and Indonesian nationalism: Sukarno’s life and political identity were born in resistance to Dutch colonialism.

• World War II and Japanese occupation: This period disrupted colonial dominance and opened space for nationalist mobilization.

• Decolonization and Cold War: Sukarno navigated the geopolitical tensions between the U.S., Soviet Union, and China, positioning Indonesia in the “Third World” and Non-Aligned Movement.

• Domestic ideological contestation: His balancing of political Islam, nationalism, communism, and military strength reflected Indonesia’s ideological complexity.

• Authoritarian experiments in democracy: His Guided Democracy serves as a case study in centralized leadership, personality cult, and how post-colonial states manage diversity and dissent.

• The 1965–66 purges and regime change: The violent transition to Suharto’s New Order dramatically reoriented Indonesia’s political trajectory and historical memory.

Legacy and Influence

Sukarno’s legacy is contested, complicated, and still deeply felt in Indonesia:

• Founding Father: He is widely revered as the Proklamator Kemerdekaan (“Proclaimer of Independence”) and as a unifying national symbol.

• Cultural symbolism: His oratory, flamboyant style, and charisma shaped Indonesian political culture.

• Institutional imprint: The Pancasila, adopted under his leadership, remains Indonesia’s guiding philosophy.

• Mixed evaluation of governance: Critics point to his drift toward authoritarianism, economic mismanagement, and overreliance on balancing political factions.

• Inspiration for postcolonial leaders: His anti-imperial rhetoric, nonaligned diplomacy, and attempt to craft an independent third path continue to inspire leaders seeking alternatives to Cold War binaries.

• Historical memory and rehabilitation: Over time, Indonesian society has engaged in debates about how to assess Sukarno’s merits and faults. In 2024, Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) formally revoked a 1967 resolution that stripped him of power and barred him from politics, aiming to restore his reputation posthumously.

Personality, Traits & Style

From biographical accounts and his public persona, several attributes characterize Sukarno:

• Charismatic and theatrical: He was a consummate orator and used dramatic rhetorical flair to mobilize mass support.

• Intellectual eclectic: He drew on diverse ideologies (Marxism, nationalism, Islam, socialist thought) and sought to synthesize them in the Indonesian context.

• Ambitious and grandiose: He conceived bold political projects (CONEFO, anti-imperialist coalitions) and aimed to elevate Indonesia’s international standing.

• Pragmatic opportunism: At times he made uneasy alliances, cooperated with occupiers (e.g. Japanese), or adopted flexible policies depending on context.

• Personal complexity: He married multiple women, had many children, and his personal life was the subject of public fascination and controversy.

He was both a symbol and a real political actor whose strengths and excesses shaped Indonesia’s early decades.

Famous Quotes of Sukarno

Here are some memorable quotes attributed to Sukarno:

• “This country, the Republic of Indonesia, does not belong to any group, nor to any religion, nor to any ethnic group … but the property of all of us from Sabang to Merauke!”

• “We shake the sky, we thunder the land, we stir the ocean so this nation shall not live by 2½ cents a day. A nation that works hard, not a nation of tofu, not a nation of workers.” (in original Indonesian: “Kami menggoyangkan langit, menggempakan darat, dan menggelorakan samudera agar tidak jadi bangsa yang hidup hanya dari 2 ½ sen sehari. Bangsa yang kerja keras, bukan bangsa tempe, bukan bangsa kuli.”)

• “Bebek berjalan berbondong-bondong, akan tetapi burung elang terbang sendirian.” (“Ducks walk in groups, but the eagle flies alone.”)

• “I hate imperialism.” (Often in his speeches he denounced colonial and neo-colonial systems.)

• “At least Russia and China didn’t call us names when we smiled sweetly at America.”

These quotations reflect themes of national pride, unity, anti-imperialism, and a willingness to assert an independent identity.

Lessons from Sukarno

1. Charismatic leadership can unify, but also concentrate power
   Sukarno shows how personal appeal and symbolic authority can mobilize populations, but also how they risk undermining institutional checks.

2. Balancing diversity is central in post-colonial states
   His attempt to integrate regional, religious, and ideological diversity under a single national frame provides lessons (both positive and cautionary) for plural societies.

3. Ideological synthesis rather than importation
   Sukarno adapted foreign ideological currents to Indonesian realities, rather than simply copying models. This underscores the importance of rooted political strategies.

4. Diplomacy beyond Cold War binaries
   In the mid-20th century, he remained committed to nonalignment and anti-imperialism—even while engaging pragmatically with major powers.

5. The fragility of revolutionary legitimacy
   Sukarno’s downfall illustrates how revolutionary legitimacy can erode when governance fails, crises escalate, or competing power centers emerge.

6. Historical reappraisal is ongoing
   Political figures like Sukarno are rarely static in historical memory: later generations reinterpret their legacies, weighing idealism against shortcomings.

Conclusion

Sukarno’s life is a dramatic arc from colonial subject to revolutionary leader to sidelined elder statesman. He infused Indonesia’s founding era with intellectual ambition, charismatic energy, and ideological contestation. His policies, mistakes, and bold dreams remain enshrined in Indonesia’s institutions, political culture, and public memory.

To truly understand modern Indonesia—or more broadly the challenges of postcolonial nation-building—one must engage with Sukarno’s ideas, achievements, and contradictions. If you like, I can also prepare a version of this article in Vietnamese or focus more on Sukarno’s thought (Pancasila, Nasakom) in depth.