Indonesia Celebrates 100 Years of Bahasa Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The year 2026 marks an important milestone in the history of the Indonesian language, commemorating 100 years since the idea of Indonesian as a language of unity began to emerge. The milestone also serves as part of Indonesia’s preparations to commemorate the centenary of the Youth Pledge in 2028.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said the idea of Indonesian as a language of unity began to take shape during the First Indonesian Youth Congress, held from April 30 to May 2, 1926. The movement reached a historic milestone with the Youth Pledge on October 28, 1928, which strengthened the role of Indonesian as the language of national unity.

The Youth Pledge became a significant moment in Indonesia’s history, strengthening national identity, cultural heritage, and national pride. Indonesian has since played an important role in bringing together the country’s diverse ethnic groups, cultures, and regional languages.

To commemorate this milestone, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, through the Language Development and Fostering Agency, is once again holding a series of language and literature activities throughout October as part of the 2026 Language and Literature Month. The annual event has been held consistently since 1980 as a means of commemorating the spirit of the Youth Pledge, particularly its commitment to upholding Indonesian as the language of unity.

The 2026 Language and Literature Month carries the theme “Dignified Indonesian; Sovereign Indonesia.” The theme reflects a century of the Indonesian language journey from 1926 to 2026 while highlighting the language’s role as one of the pillars of national identity and sovereignty.

A number of activities have been held since the middle of the year, including the Book Review Competition, Festival Handai Indonesia, the National Language Ambassador Selection, and the National Poetry Musicalization Festival. Entering October, the program features various awards and appreciation activities, including the Literature Award, Adibahasa Award, and an assessment of the use of Indonesian in online mass media.

The month-long program also includes national competitions and festivals, such as the Reading and Review Competition, Poetry Declamation Competition for People with Visual Disabilities, Literature and Literacy Performances, and Senja Berpuisi, scheduled for October 15 in Jakarta.

The Language Development and Fostering Agency is also organizing central and regional collaboration programs through Menjalin Indonesia and Anjangsana Bahasa. The programs aim to expand language services to schools, government institutions, and partner organizations across Indonesia.

A number of academic forums are also scheduled, including Bincang Bahasa and Bincang Sastra, the 2026 Regional Languages Congress from October 18 to 21, and a Language and Literature in Education seminar on October 27. The seminar will explore the ideas of Indonesian writer Sanusi Pane as part of efforts to reflect on the spirit of the Youth Pledge ahead of its centenary.

The entire series of the 2026 Language and Literature Month will culminate in the main celebration on October 28, 2026. The event will serve as part of Indonesia’s journey toward the centenary of the Youth Pledge while reaffirming the role of Indonesian as a language of unity and a key element of national identity.