RRI.CO.ID, Surakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, paid a visit to the gravesite of K.H. Samanhudi in Surakarta , Thursday 26 March 2026 as part of his official working trip. The visit aimed to honor the legacy of one of Indonesia’s early national movement pioneers.

During the visit, Fadli Zon highlighted Samanhudi’s crucial role in organizing indigenous communities during the colonial era. He noted that Samanhudi’s efforts laid the groundwork for broader social and political movements in Indonesia.

He explained that Samanhudi mobilized economic strength through trade-based organizations, particularly among batik merchants in Laweyan. “He organized the people’s power through an economic platform, Sarekat Dagang Islam, as an initial step against colonial dominance,” Fadli Zon said.

The minister added that the transformation of Sarekat Dagang Islam into Sarekat Islam in 1912 marked a significant shift in the national struggle. According to him, the movement evolved from economic interests into a wider political force advocating justice and independence.

“Sarekat Islam’s evolution shows that the struggle expanded beyond economic concerns into a broader movement for freedom,” he stated. He emphasized that this transformation became a milestone in Indonesia’s path toward independence.

K.H. Samanhudi, born in 1868 in Surakarta, was a successful batik entrepreneur who founded Sarekat Dagang Islam in 1905. The organization later grew into Sarekat Islam, one of the largest mass movements during Indonesia’s national awakening.

The visit was attended by Surakarta Mayor Respati Ardianto and several local government representatives, along with officials from the Ministry of Culture. The presence of various stakeholders underscored the importance of preserving historical memory and national identity.

Concluding the visit, Fadli Zon stressed the need to strengthen public awareness of national history through such commemorative activities. “We must continue to elevate historical values as part of building national character and cultural identity,” he said.