Sutan Sjahrir Unknown to Younger Generation
VIVAnews - If only he were still alive, Indonesian figure Sutan Sjahrir would have been 100 years of age on Thursday, March 5. Sjahrir, who was appointed Indonesian Prime Minister at the age of 40, once presided Parliamentary Cabinet three times in a row between 1945 and 1947. Sjahrir was a central figure during the Indonesian struggle for independence, especially concerning diplomacy and politics.
However, being a prominent Indonesian diplomat, his service in the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia was lost in oblivion. He was a forgotten Indonesian hero.
Upik Sjahrir, his daughter, was upset that younger Indonesian generation failed to remember Sutan Sjahrir. "His name is frequently misspelled as Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana and Sjahrir the [late] economic analyst," said Upik during an occasion "Commemorating 100 Years Sutan Sjahrir" at Pelita Harapan University, Karawaci, Tangerang, Tuesday, March 10.
In fact, in order to know whether or not younger generation recognizes Sutan Sjahrir, Upik once conducted survey in several private universities in Jakarta.
"The [university] students replied, 'I don't know the man. I'm a student of Accounting Department, anyway'. I was terribly sad upon hearing [their responses]," she said.
Upik said the commemoration of 100 years of Sutan Sjahrir was not aimed at making Sjahrir an idol or displayed nostalgia over his figure. "But the event is to know Sutan Sjahrir [better] and to recall his thoughts and struggle," she went on to say.
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Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono
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