The Father Of Film And Heroes, The Name Hajj Usmar Ismail Is Ready To Be The Name Of The Street In Bukittinggi Near Jam Gadang

JAKARTA - Jalan Haji Usmar Ismail will be inaugurated in Bukittinggi City, West Sumatra, Tuesday (29/5/2025). The naming of this street is a form of appreciation and respect for the National Film and Heroes born in Bukittinggi.

Jalan Haji Usmar Ismail yang akan diresmiskan berada di Kawasan pusat kota Bukittinggi. Masyarakat bisa mengakses jalan yang dapat dijalan kaki dari Jam Gadang.

"Usmar Ismail Hajj Road will be inaugurated by the Minister of Culture Dr. H. Fadli Zon, SS, MSc which is planned to be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 with a series of Minangkabau cultural performances," said Bukittinggi Mayor H. M. Ramlan Nurmatias, SH.

The naming of Jalan Haji Usmar Ismail was proposed by the director of Indonesian films, Arief Malinmudo through an official letter proposing the name of the street to the Bukittinggi City Government on March 7, 2025. The initiative was welcomed by the Mayor of Bukittinggi H. M Ramlan Nurmatias, who at that time had just been inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto at the State Palace.

Jalan Haji Usmar Ismail was determined through the Decree of the Mayor of Bukittinggi number 188.45.68-2025 dated March 18, 2025.

Before it was enacted, a series of administrative procedures and studies were carried out by the Regional Apparatus Work Unit starting from the Education and Culture Office, the Housing and Settlement Areas Service, the Public Works Service, the Transportation Service, the Government Administration, other related agencies as well as traditional and ulama leaders and were confirmed by the approval of the Bukittinggi City Regional People's Representative Council.

Bukittinggi Mayor M Ramlan Nurmatias said Usmar Ismail should be an example for the young generation of Bukittinggi.

"For us personally and the people of the city of Bukittinggi, the figure of Usmar Ismail who with the background of the educated family and has a variety of talents in him, should be an example for the young generation of Bukittinggi, this is in line with the mission of developing Bukittinggi's global competitive, moral and cultured human resources," said Ramlan.

Representing the family, Heidy Hermia Ismail, Usmar Ismail's fourth child, said, "The inauguration of this street name is a very valuable event for Usmar Ismail's extended family."

Moreover, Bukittinggi City is the first city in Indonesia to inaugurate the name Jalan Haji Usmar Ismail with polite ethics and through family approval. We really appreciate that," said Heidy.

Meanwhile, director Riri Riza as the curator of Usmar Ismail's 100th Anniversary exhibition in Bukittinggi revealed that respect for national cultural and hero figure Usmar Ismail (1921-1970) through the immortalization of names on the main street in his hometown was a very significant initiative for the life of our nation today.

This idea will promote cultural values and the historical role of the figure in the daily life of the citizens. Bukittinggi is not only connected to Indonesia's national history through figures born here, but he is also a beautiful city with cultural tourism opportunities, cities that directly and do not affect Usmar Ismail's thoughts and works. To this day, Usmar Ismail's films, theaters and literature have received widespread recognition both in Indonesia and internationally. We should be grateful for the series of individual initiatives, communities to continue to remember their work in recent years.