Soekarno: The Most Brilliant Indonesian Man

I have read Bung Karno’s June 1, 1945 Speech multiple times, especially while writing my books Indonesian Dream in 2009 and again in 2018. Now, as I work on Semangat Soekarno, a book for Indonesian children, I revisited his speech and other writings in a moment of quiet reflection.

I was once again struck by the depth and breadth of his knowledge, especially given the limited access to information in his time. His extraordinary love for Indonesia was just as evident. In my view, the original order of Pancasila he proposed, with Kebangsaan placed first, is superior to the current version—a topic worth exploring further in a book.

I have read about America’s founding fathers. They were all brilliant, laying the foundation for the nation we see today. Soekarno would have easily fit among them. He was truly a rare figure in Indonesian history.

The Secret Behind His Brilliance

Soekarno’s intellectual hunger was unmatched. From a young age, his intelligence didn’t make him complacent—it made him even more eager to learn. That was part of his secret. But what made him understand and love Indonesia so deeply? I believe it came down to distance and calling.

Soekarno had already recognized his calling to lead Indonesia as early as his student years at HBS Surabaya and later at ITB Bandung. At the same time, he developed a unique ability to mentally distance himself from immediate struggles—meditating, reflecting, and stepping back to see Indonesia’s reality in its entirety. Had he been too immersed in the day-to-day oppression of colonial rule, his thinking could have been reactive, fragmented, or short-sighted. Instead, he maintained clarity and far-reaching vision.

Modern psychology offers two relevant concepts, both of which I believe Soekarno embodied. First, mental compartmentalization, which allows individuals to separate conflicting thoughts and emotions to avoid cognitive dissonance, enabling them to function without being overwhelmed. Second, psychological coherence, which aligns thoughts, values, and actions, fostering clarity and a consistent vision despite external challenges.

Despite the grim reality of colonial rule, Soekarno—through imagination, contemplation, and knowledge—could mentally step back and construct a clear and coherent vision for Indonesia’s future. He could see a reality that had yet to unfold, purely from his readings and reflections.

A Personal Reflection

On the topic of nationalism, it took me years of living in Boston, the intellectual hub of the U.S., to fully grasp the depth of what Soekarno articulated in that speech. I later translated this into my own perspective on life’s purpose, which I wrote in Indonesian Dream: The Pursuit of a Winning Nation (2009). In one passage, I wrote:

Just as people cannot choose their parents, they cannot choose their country of birth. And just as people can have adoptive parents, they can also have an adoptive country. Yet, one thing remains unchanged: their birthplace. This often-overlooked fact suggests that our birthplace is not a random occurrence. Rather, in my view, it is inherently tied to our life’s purpose—to be valuable to ourselves, our family, and our nation. (p. 36)

Essentially, Soekarno had already conveyed this idea in his June 1, 1945 Speech.

This principle continues to guide me. Even after three decades of living in a developed country, I remain committed to Indonesia—not because life in Indonesia is more comfortable, but because Indonesia deserves to be built properly. Even with the best efforts, Indonesia may not reach the level of the United States in the next 100 years, let alone if it is mismanaged.

True Leadership

Returning to Soekarno’s speech, our birthplace is not random. There is a purpose behind it—certainly not for corruption, nepotism, or self-aggrandizement.

If someone truly understands this, they will see their fellow citizens not as enemies, competitors, burdens, or objects of exploitation, but as people they are responsible for.

Soekarno summarized this in his biography, as told to Cindy Adams:

“To lead my people, I must first know them, love them, and be part of them.”

To know, love, and be part of the people. I worry that many Indonesian leaders and elites today do not truly understand, empathize with, or feel a deep connection to those they lead. Perhaps they need to step back and spend time in a developed country like the U.S., observing Indonesia from a distance with greater objectivity.

No human is perfect, and Soekarno had his flaws. But in my view, they do not diminish the fact that he remains the most brilliant Indonesian man in the nation’s history.