The Indonesians have always appreciated the merits of their heroes by giving them the required respect from the country. These national heroes of Indonesia make the nation proud and the people acknowledge them as an important part of the history of the country.
Some of the important national heroes of Indonesia are:
• Abdul Muis
• Eduard Douwes Dekker
• H. M. Soeharto
• Wilhelmus Zakaria Johannes
Sukarno
born on 6th June, 1901 was the first President of
Indonesia and also one of the Indonesian national heroes who helped the country
win its independence from the hands of the Netherlands. Sukarno was in office
from 1945 to 1967, presiding with mixed success over the country's turbulent
transition to independence. The Indonesians remember him as 'Bung Karno', an
affectionate title used to address colleagues.
Abdul Muis
born on 3rd July, 1883 was an Indonesian writer,
journalist and nationalist. Fighting tirelessly for Indonesia's independence
from the Netherlands he was a civil service employer. Afterwards he switched
over journalism and became quite famous for his stirring articles, which were
highly critical of Dutch involvement in Indonesia. Muis even published a book,
'Salah Asuhan' (Wrong Upbringing) in 1928. An important freedom fighter in the
history of Indonesia, today many Indonesian cities have streets named after
him.
Eduard Douwes Dekker
born at Amsterdam on 2nd March 1820,
he was a Dutch writer famous for his satirical novel. Better known by his pen
name 'Multatuli', he marked the abuses of colonialism in the colony of then
Dutch East Indies, today's Indonesia. Multatuli was also a famous journalist
and an activist. He is among the very few citizens of the former colonial power
who is paid the due respect of being a national hero.
H. M. Soeharto
born on 8th June, 1921 was a former
Indonesian political leader and a military officer in the Indonesian National
Revolution. He was better known and remembered as the long-reigning second
President of Indonesia, holding the office from 1967 to 1998. Soeharto created
a strong central government along militarist lines and he had the ability to
maintain stability and an avowedly anti-Communist stand won him the economic
and diplomatic support of several Western governments in the era of the Cold
War. For three decades he was one the popular heroes of Indonesia and his 'New
Order' won him many praises.
Wilhelmus Zakaria Johannes
born on 1895 in the Netherlands
was an Indonesian doctor in the field of Radiology. He was the first Indonesian
medical doctor to learn radiology in Holland and then contributing to the
development of medical studies in Indonesia. An expert in the Rontgen
technology, the government of Indonesia honored Johannes as one of Indonesia's
national heroes and latter named a general hospital in Kupang, East Nusa
Tenggara after him.
