Celebrating Pancasila Day in Ende seemed like bringing Pancasila back to its womb, where the principles were born. This is an opportunity to heighten the spirit of all citizens even more to keep Pancasila securely rooted
By
Mawar Kusuma Wulan and Fransiskus Pati Herin
·6 minutes read
LAILY RACHEV-BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo (second from left) during a visit to the Karno Flower Reflection Park in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday (1/6/2022).2022).
The cheerfulness of Pancasila Day came to be even more meaningful as President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo visited several places that had been part of Pancasila history in Ende regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Diversity and warmth emanated from the region that embodies the womb from which the state ideology was born.
In the morning before leading the Pancasila Day ceremony at Pancasila Square, President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana Jokowi visited the house where Sukarno “Bung Karno” was exiled, in Ende regency on Wednesday (1/6/2022). Jokowi wore a traditional Ragi Lambu Luka Lesu costume, typical of Ende, with a combined red and black motif. Iriana was dressed in attire with a blended brown-dark purple motif.
In the house, the traces of Bung Karno’s struggle were still evident. Apparently wishing to experience the nostalgic presence of Bung Karno, the President washed his face with water scooped out of the well in the backyard of the house.
His modest living during exile was apparent in the various objects left behind by Bung Karno and his family. The President observed Bung
Karno’s own paintings and drama manuscripts. When he noticed the plate formerly used by Bung Karno, he was stunned.
“It got kind of gnawed by a mouse,” said the President, who was accompanied by, among others, Cabinet secretary Pramono Anung and NTT Governor Viktor Laiskodat.
The house is part of the historic record of the daily activity of Bung Karno as he cultivated the Pancasila principles and spread the values of national struggle to gain independence.
“I feel proud that in 2022, exactly on this day of 1 June, the date Pancasila was born, President Joko Widodo is willing to be present in the birth place of Pancasila and visit the house of our first president, Sukarno,” said the caretaker of the historic place, Syarifudin.
Head of the agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIP) Yudian Wahyudi said Bung Karno during his exile once called this place the “tip of the world”. At the time, how Indonesia could achieve independence was unimaginable. However, with his burning spirit of patriotism, Bung Karno changed the situation into intense enthusiasm for the realization of national independence.
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President Joko Widodo (center) while visiting Bung Karno's House of Exile in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday (1/6/2022).
In the modest house, the Dutch colonial government isolated Sukarno and his family from society at large. “In this place, he [Sukarno] could turn the very depressing situation into the spirit of upcoming liberation. Therefore, Ende became one of the main points in the journey of Bung Karno to reach Pancasila and finally independence,” added Yudian.
After heading the ceremony, the President proceeded to the Bung Karno Reflection Park. During his exile in Ende from 14 January 1934 to 18
October 1938, Sukarno spent much time reflecting under a sukun (breadfruit) tree in the park. According to Bung Karno’s acknowledgement in his autobiography, it was there that he got the inspiration for the noble values of Pancasila.
Sukarno at the time shared that if someday the tree died, another should be planted there. In its history, the first sukun tree died in 1972. The government at the time had tried to plant a new one but it would not grow.
Later, during the term of office of Ende regent Herman Joseph Gadi Djou in 1973-1983, he requested the close friends of Sukarno then still alive to plant another sukun tree. The replanting occurred on 17 August 1980 and the tree has been growing since.
It was also while in Ende that Bung Karno learned a lot about pluralism and transformed from an individual into a national figure. Such diversity, too, came to the fore when the President received the customary Ende elder’s title, witnessed by Islamic, Catholic, Christian, Hindu and Buddhist religious leaders in the Ende Weaving House. The President also visited the Bung Karno Hall at the Kristus Raja Cathedral.
The President indicated that the warmth of Ende’s people had inspired Bung Karno. “This is what I think why Bung Karno got the thoughts and reflections about Pancasila originally from Ende. I feel it’s because he was surrounded by the warmth of people who were always close to their leader,” said the President.
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President Joko Widodo led the Pancasila Birthday ceremony in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday (1/6/2022).
Returning home
The Ende and NTT population as a whole generally appreciated the President’s decision to commemorate the birth of Pancasila in Ende. In historic records, the ideas of Pancasila principles occurred to Sukarno when he was banished by the Dutch to Ende in 1934-1938. Sukarno later emerged as one of the proclaimers of independence so that he was named the first president of Indonesia.
“We feel that Pancasila has returned home, to the house where Sukarno came up with his ideas. Pancasila is back to the place of birth of these ideas. This commemoration at the same time shows the state’s recognition that Pancasila was born out of Sukarno’s reflections in Ende,” said Agus Hermanus Riwu, 33, a youth figure from Ende.
An anthropologist from Widya Mandira Catholic University in Kupang, Father Gregor Noenbasu SVD, held the view that the choice of Ende as the place to commemorate Pancasila Day pointed to Jokowi as a leader who appreciated history and displayed his dignity.
“In his visit, the President this time entered Santo Yosef Monastery in Ende, where Sukarno exchanged views with the SVD [Society of the Divine Word] priests, especially Father Huijtink of SVD. The President’s visit to this ’Pancasila City’ is a contemplation on Pancasila as the Indonesian nation’s vital elan,” he said.
As a discussion partner, he borrowed books from the pastors. Even if they were busy, the keys to their rooms were left to Sukarno.
President Jokowi and Iriana went to the monastery to inspect the Sukarno Hall. As written on the inscription of the monastery, Bung Karno during his exile in Ende spent his time reading books and magazines. He also had consultations about the plan and schedule for staging a drama he had written.
Sukarno frequently exchanged opinions with priests, particularly two missionaries from the Netherlands, Father Gerardus Huijtink and Father
Johannes Bouma. “As a discussion partner, he borrowed books from the pastors. Even if they were busy, the keys to their rooms were left to Sukarno,” said Ende Archbishop Monsignor Vincentius Sensi Potokota when giving an explanation to the President.
The close ties and friendship of Bung Karno with both priests are also depicted in a painting that shows the three figures discussing while walking. According to Vincentius, the two priests highly respected Sukarno and called him “Mister President”, even before he became president of the Republic of Indonesia.
Celebrating Pancasila Day in Ende seemed like bringing Pancasila back to its womb, where the principles were born. This is an opportunity to heighten the spirit of all citizens even more to keep Pancasila securely rooted.
