Artikel & Cerita
Megawati: Surabaya Is Bung Karno’s Kitchen of Nationalism
INFO TEMPO - Chairwoman of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri emphasized that East Java, particularly Surabaya, holds an important position in the history of the struggle and in shaping the thinking of Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno. Bung Karno even referred to Surabaya as the “Kitchen of Nationalism”.
“From an ideological and historical perspective, East Java is very important. Bung Karno was born, raised, and forged here in East Java. Surabaya, Mojokerto, and Blitar are full of historical traces of Bung Karno’s struggle. He himself said that Surabaya was ‘the kitchen of nationalism’,” Megawati said while giving guidance at the East Java PDI Perjuangan Consolidation in Surabaya, Sunday, 23 August 2026.
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Megawati said Bung Karno completed his education at HBS (Hoogere Burgerschool) in Surabaya and also studied under H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto. In very limited conditions, Bung Karno lived in a small room without windows, lit by an oil lamp.
Yet from that modest place, Bung Karno refined his intellectual thinking and ideas for the struggle. Through the various books he read, Bung Karno engaged in intellectual dialogue with a range of figures and thinkers from around the world.
Those figures included Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, William Gladstone, Karl Marx, Sun Yat-sen, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as thinkers and independence fighters from various nations.
“Surabaya thus became the place where Bung Karno forged himself into a resilient patriot. At the very young age of 16, he had already imagined and then fought for an Independent Indonesia,” Megawati explained.
The fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia said that today’s younger generation can learn from Bung Karno about the power of thought, imagination, courage, and struggle. Bung Karno was an example of a young person who lived under limited circumstances but had a great vision and a far-reaching view of the future of his nation.
“Surabaya in 1916 had already become a center of global capitalism. Yet Bung Karno proved that the world’s greatest colonial power, namely the Dutch East Indies, could be defeated through Indonesian independence. Make this a lesson for young people to dare to dream. Bung Karno began his struggle as a poor young man, but he had great aspirations and fought for them,” Megawati said.
Megawati then asked all PDIP sympathizers, members, and cadres to maintain a fervor and fighting spirit that continues to burn. Whatever challenges they face, cadres must be able to make PDIP one of the most important political forces on the island of Java.
She also asked all cadres to make Bung Karno’s thoughts and struggle a means of forging themselves in carrying out party duties.
“Because Bung Karno himself said that Surabaya was ‘the kitchen of nationalism’. This means that it became the place where the nation’s strong fighters and patriots were shaped and forged,” Megawati said.
Amid today’s political pragmatism, Megawati emphasized the importance of ideas, imagination, strategy, and militancy in politics. She reminded cadres not to place money and power above everything in the political struggle.
According to Megawati, PDIP’s main strength lies instead in its ideology, fighting spirit, and closeness and joint movement with the people at the grassroots. Therefore, through the consolidation, she instructed all levels of PDIP in East Java to further strengthen their base and political work among the public.
“Strengthen the grassroots. Make the spirit of Bung Karno’s forging a source of energy, especially in East Java,” Megawati said.
Megawati also once again reminded them of the importance of building emotional bonding, both with the people and among fellow party cadres. These bonds are considered important for strengthening solidarity while maintaining PDIP’s relationship with the public.
She hoped that East Java would truly become the “Banteng Stronghold” again, with a target of winning at least the same number of seats as PDIP achieved in the 2019 Election.
Megawati reminded them that the militancy of PDIP cadres in East Java had been tested throughout history, including when facing political pressure during the New Order era.
“Remember, even when facing the pressure of the New Order, East Java emerged as a breakthrough force. Pandegiling and Sukolilo are proof of the militancy of the arek-arek Banteng of East Java,” Megawati said. (*)
“From an ideological and historical perspective, East Java is very important. Bung Karno was born, raised, and forged here in East Java. Surabaya, Mojokerto, and Blitar are full of historical traces of Bung Karno’s struggle. He himself said that Surabaya was ‘the kitchen of nationalism’,” Megawati said while giving guidance at the East Java PDI Perjuangan Consolidation in Surabaya, Sunday, 23 August 2026.
Scroll down to continue reading
Megawati said Bung Karno completed his education at HBS (Hoogere Burgerschool) in Surabaya and also studied under H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto. In very limited conditions, Bung Karno lived in a small room without windows, lit by an oil lamp.
Yet from that modest place, Bung Karno refined his intellectual thinking and ideas for the struggle. Through the various books he read, Bung Karno engaged in intellectual dialogue with a range of figures and thinkers from around the world.
Those figures included Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, William Gladstone, Karl Marx, Sun Yat-sen, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as thinkers and independence fighters from various nations.
“Surabaya thus became the place where Bung Karno forged himself into a resilient patriot. At the very young age of 16, he had already imagined and then fought for an Independent Indonesia,” Megawati explained.
The fifth President of the Republic of Indonesia said that today’s younger generation can learn from Bung Karno about the power of thought, imagination, courage, and struggle. Bung Karno was an example of a young person who lived under limited circumstances but had a great vision and a far-reaching view of the future of his nation.
“Surabaya in 1916 had already become a center of global capitalism. Yet Bung Karno proved that the world’s greatest colonial power, namely the Dutch East Indies, could be defeated through Indonesian independence. Make this a lesson for young people to dare to dream. Bung Karno began his struggle as a poor young man, but he had great aspirations and fought for them,” Megawati said.
Megawati then asked all PDIP sympathizers, members, and cadres to maintain a fervor and fighting spirit that continues to burn. Whatever challenges they face, cadres must be able to make PDIP one of the most important political forces on the island of Java.
She also asked all cadres to make Bung Karno’s thoughts and struggle a means of forging themselves in carrying out party duties.
“Because Bung Karno himself said that Surabaya was ‘the kitchen of nationalism’. This means that it became the place where the nation’s strong fighters and patriots were shaped and forged,” Megawati said.
Amid today’s political pragmatism, Megawati emphasized the importance of ideas, imagination, strategy, and militancy in politics. She reminded cadres not to place money and power above everything in the political struggle.
According to Megawati, PDIP’s main strength lies instead in its ideology, fighting spirit, and closeness and joint movement with the people at the grassroots. Therefore, through the consolidation, she instructed all levels of PDIP in East Java to further strengthen their base and political work among the public.
“Strengthen the grassroots. Make the spirit of Bung Karno’s forging a source of energy, especially in East Java,” Megawati said.
Megawati also once again reminded them of the importance of building emotional bonding, both with the people and among fellow party cadres. These bonds are considered important for strengthening solidarity while maintaining PDIP’s relationship with the public.
She hoped that East Java would truly become the “Banteng Stronghold” again, with a target of winning at least the same number of seats as PDIP achieved in the 2019 Election.
Megawati reminded them that the militancy of PDIP cadres in East Java had been tested throughout history, including when facing political pressure during the New Order era.
“Remember, even when facing the pressure of the New Order, East Java emerged as a breakthrough force. Pandegiling and Sukolilo are proof of the militancy of the arek-arek Banteng of East Java,” Megawati said. (*)
Sumber: Tempo ↗