Indonesia Enhances Preservation of UNESCO Recognized Panji Stories

KBRN, Jakarta: The commitment to preserve and promote the Panji story as a world literary masterpiece recognized by UNESCO in 2017 is realized through the collaboration of Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture and the National Library of Indonesia.

The synergy to preserve and promote the Panji story as a world literary masterpiece was realized in the form of a seminar and exhibition with the theme, “Panji Literature and Culture Throughout the Ages,” which was held at the National Library of Indonesia, Jakarta, Tuesday (11/4/2025).

Director General of Cultural and Traditional Heritage Protection at the Ministry of Culture, Restu Gunawan, underscored that the story of Panji, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a Memory of the World (MoW) since 2017, must be utilized as a powerful tool of cultural diplomacy to foster national confidence.

“Panji is part of our cultural heritage that we should be proud of and capitalize on to generate economic prosperity for all of us. Culture is not just a romantic notion; it can also be used to promote economic progress,” he said.

According to him, the Panji story, which spread widely to various regions in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand, is factual evidence that Indonesian culture has a significant influence on the world.

The Head of the Sub-Directorate for Historical Preservation, Agus Hermanto, as the coordinator, stated that this seminar represents the commitment of the Directorate General for Cultural and Tradition Protection through the Directorate of History and Museums.

"The goal is, of course, to continue preserving and popularizing the Panji story as a literary masterpiece, recognized internationally through UNESCO's designation in 2017," he mentioned.

In addition, this activity aims at raising collective awareness of the sublime values and historical richness contained in the Panji story, while also encouraging new studies relevant to the current context.

Specifically, the Deputy for Library Materials Development and Information Services at the National Library, Suharyanto, announced the steps to adapt the Panji manuscript with the aim of popularizing it among the public. This program, which has been running since 2024, involves adapting Nusantara manuscripts into comic books for children to enjoy.

"And this is also our challenge at the National Library. This year, 2025, we are trying to adapt ancient Nusantara manuscripts into animated form. This is a concrete step for us, how our Nusantara manuscripts can be widely disseminated and enjoyed by the wider public," he said.

In support of this program, Directorate General, Restu Gunawan, is also encouraging this initiative and asking for innovations to capitalize on Panji, for example, by using it as inspiration for films, crafts, and even official intellectual property (IP).

"We need young people who dare to innovate by adapting these Panji stories into films, animations, and comics... We rarely manage the IP of our cultural heritage, even though we are so rich," he said.

The National Library is also presenting the "Panji Story Exhibition: Wandering Throughout Time," which runs until November 7. This exhibition invites visitors to trace the long trail of the Panji story from its historical roots in Java, its spread across the Indonesian archipelago and Southeast Asia, to its manifestation in various works of art and manuscripts.