Activities

Soekarno Tree at Sanata Dharma Uni

Mon, 04 Apr 2022

Standing strong is the Soekarno tree! Though the tree was named after Soekarno, the first president of the Republic of Indonesia, it was actually not planted directly by Bung Karno, the nickname of the president, but by a gardener named Saiman. 

The first president visited Sanata Dharma University (SDU), originally known as a Teacher Education College (PTPG), on 8 April 1961 to mark the fifth anniversary of the college. Some important figures who accompanied Bung Karno were the Minister of Education, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, Nyi Hadjar Dewantara, educational figures and senior officials.

"As part of the living monument, a banyan tree was planted as a sign of Bung Karno's presence at Sanata Dharma," said Father Gregorius Subanar, SJ, a faculty member of the Postgraduate School.


Nyi Ageng Serang stone monument from Bung Karno


When Bung Karno visited Sanata Dharma, he actually brought a stone monument taken from the Nyi Ageng Serang complex in Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. Now, the inscription is placed near the Soekarna banyan tree. The stone monument became the basic symbol of development of SDU. It is expected the stone monument, which was taken from the complex of Nyi Ageng Serang, who is a national warrior figure, would spark patriotic inspirations.

“And Bung Karno said, 'This (Nyi Ageng Serang) is my ancestor. In a sense, not as a person, but as an Indonesian nation'," said Father Gregorius Subanar, SJ.



What a lovely open space around the Soekarno banyan tree! 



Let's take a closer look at the banyan tree branches



Soekarno banyan tree from some distance



Standing strong here ... Soekarno banyan tree at Sanata Dharma Uni


Text and pictures by PBI MMC-ers: Modesta Yuni Agudiana (181214008), Catherine Sanjaya Pandji Putri (191214050) and Angelina Kusuma Jelita Mawarni (191214073)
Editor: Barli Bram

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