Introducing Heroes in Creative Ways

Kompas/Alif Ichwan

A resident gives his signature on a long white cloth displaying the photo of national heroes at the car free day area of Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle, Thamrin, Jakarta, Sunday (14/5). The event, organized by the Movement to Love the Nation and Pancasila, invites citizens to maintain the unity and diversity of Indonesia and emulate struggles of the heroes.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Filmmakers, game designers and history enthusiasts have used creative means to introduce our national heroes to the younger generations. Such efforts must be continued so that the narratives of heroic nationalism become etched in the minds of millennials.

At least 11 biopics on national heroes have been released since 2010, including Kartini, Guru Bangsa: Tjokroaminoto (The Nation’s Teacher: Tjokroaminoto), Jenderal Soedirman, Soekarno, Sang Pencerah (The Enlightener), on noted Muslim cleric K.H. Ahmad Dahlan, and Wage, on composer Wage Rudolf (W.R.) Supratman, who wrote the national anthem, “Indonesia Raya” (“Great Indonesia”).