History Written By Rulers: Controversy Of Indonesian History Overshadowed By Desukarnoization

Illustration - Indonesian National History Book. (Facebook)

JAKARTA - Efforts to reduce the role of Soekarno (desukarnoisasi) in the national historical map have occurred in the New Order era (Orba). Everything related to Bung Karno's influence and figure is trying to be reduced. Bung Karno's role in the history books of the New Order did not escape corrections.

Everything led to Suharto's message being greater than Bung Karno. Those who took up arms were more resilient than just standing on the podium. The narrative recently appeared in the era of Prabowo Subianto's government. The Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, is suspected of following in the footsteps of the New Order: desukarnoization.

Bung Karno has a big role in Indonesia's independence. He became a central figure who was able to unite all the people to escape the shackles of colonialism. This work made him the first President of Indonesia.

The Indonesian people praise him. Even though his path as a leader is not always smooth. However, everything tried to be changed when Suharto and the New Order came to power. All kinds of influence and figure of Soekarno began to be reduced.

This step was clearly seen at the end of Bung Karno's power. His loyalist was arrested. Bung Karno was then placed under house arrest. New Order is like an allergy with everything that smells of Bung Karno. In fact, Bung Karno was buried far from Jakarta which incidentally as the center of government.

The New Order has also begun to visit other roads: history. Historical corrections are being carried out by the New Order. Bung Karno's role in the nation's history is trying to be reduced by the New Order version of the national history writing project. A project that is remembered as a desukarnoization effort.

Recently, the same narrative has been repeated by the Prabowo Subianto government. Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, is trying to work on a project to rewrite Indonesia's history from 2025. He while correcting the nation's history from pre-history to the Joko Widodo (Jokowi) government.

The debate of protests also rolled out. One of the problems that was crowded was related to the government's reluctance to write Bung Karno's term in the Old Order language. The section reads in the framework: The Time of Disruption and Threat of Integration. This blasphemy raises criticism and questions regarding the return of desukarnoization efforts.

"So actually it was the historians who made it. If we look at the term 'Old Order', the Old Order government has never called itself the Old Order. If the New Order does call it the New Order. But the government at that time, did the government during that period call itself the Old Order? It doesn't exist," said Fadli Zon as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, May 26, 2025.

The rewriting of Indonesian history continues to be a polemic. The issue of the government wanting to bring back the narrative of desukarnoization is increasingly sticking out. This condition is because the rewriting of history is considered a project to improve the image of certain leaders.

Bung Karno's role is again being reduced. The case was agreed by many historians. Historian and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), totaling Triyana, is one of them.

They are worried that the historical writing project will really lead to desukanization. He asked the government to have the courage to place every figure clearly. If necessary, use critical notes. The goal is to be an important lesson for future generations.

History is not just a series of numbers and years. History can bring the younger generation to find true identities from Indonesia with past references. Or in the most basic sense, the younger generation can understand the causes of a historic event.

The preparation process was also asked carefully. There are discussions, debates, if necessary polemics. This is because historical writing must be able to receive input from many parties. The narrative was then not carried out by the government so criticism continued to arrive. In fact, until this writing was published.

Saya khawatir ada narasi yang bersifat desukarnoisasi. Be honest selama puluhan tahun Soekarno bukan hanya milik PDIP. Tetapi milik bangsa Indonesia. Citra Soekarno diregradasi, diruntuhkan, dibunuhkan karakternya.

"This is also very important to pay attention to together with narratives like this should no longer be in the history-writing project. Be grateful if it doesn't exist. However, we (should) want to place people who are in their position with all kinds of notes to be learned by the younger generation", saidmen as he said at the House of Representatives Commission X meeting regarding the plan to write Indonesia's history, May 19, 2022.