Indonesia Honors STA's Legacy for Future Nation Building

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, emphasized the enduring relevance of the ideas of renowned writer and intellectual Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana (STA) in shaping Indonesia's future, calling his legacy a guiding compass for building a globally competitive civilization. The remarks were delivered during the National Seminar titled "Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, the Indonesian Language, and the National Aspiration: Reinforcing His Intellectual Legacy for Indonesia's Future" at Universitas Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Hamka (UHAMKA) in Jakarta, Monday, June 29, 2026.

Addressing academics, historians, cultural figures, and students, Fadli praised UHAMKA and Indonesia's intellectual community for keeping STA's ideas alive through scholarly discussions. He also expressed his support for the proposal to grant STA the title of National Hero in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Indonesia's nation-building.

"Without history, a nation loses its direction. Without culture, it loses its identity. And without language, it loses its ability to build a shared future. Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana was a visionary who understood how to weave these three elements together," Fadli said.

The minister also encouraged Indonesians to shift their perspective from a Eurocentric worldview toward a "Nusantara-centric" outlook, an idea first introduced by STA in the 1970s. He said the Indonesian archipelago should be viewed not as the "Far East," but as a strategic center of global civilization supported by its remarkable cultural diversity.

Indonesia is home to more than 1,340 ethnic groups and 718 regional languages, making it one of the world's richest countries in terms of cultural diversity. According to Fadli, this cultural wealth should serve as a foundation for innovation and national development rather than merely as a historical legacy.

Fadli also highlighted STA's pivotal role in transforming Malay into modern Indonesian, helping establish it as a language capable of supporting literature, education, and scientific discourse. He noted that Indonesia achieved a significant milestone in 2024 when the Indonesian language was officially recognized as the tenth official language of UNESCO and is now spoken by more than 300 million people across Southeast Asia.

"Amid rapid globalization and the rise of digital transformation, including artificial intelligence, STA's message from the Cultural Polemic of the 1930s remains highly relevant," Fadli said. "Technological progress must go hand in hand with strengthening national character. Modernity provides competitiveness, while culture offers direction and identity. The two should not be seen as opposing forces but as complementary ones."

Concluding his keynote address, Fadli stressed that cultural development should go beyond preserving the past and instead become a source of creativity, innovation, and future progress. He expressed hope that STA's intellectual legacy would continue to inspire younger generations in strengthening Indonesia's cultural identity while enhancing its role on the global stage.