“We seek to build a world where everyone can live in peace.
We seek to build a world where there is justice and prosperity for all people.
We seek to build a world in which humanity can achieve its full glory.”
DR. H.C. Ir. Soekarno, in his speech ‘To Build the World Anew’ in the United Nations 15th General Assembly, 30 September 1960.
DR. H.C. Ir. Soekarno was born on June 6, 1901 in Surabaya, Indonesia. He was Indonesia's founding father. Soekarno proclaimed Indonesia's independence on August 17, 1945, and is the first President of the Republic of Indonesia (1945-1966).
Soekarno formulated Pancasila (‘Five Principles’) as the constitution basis of the Republic of Indonesia. This Indonesian ideology contains about divinity, humanity, nationalism, democracy, and prosperity.
During his time as the President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno actively promoting Asia-Africa solidarity and supporting the independence of colonized countries. Through his idea to organizing Asian-African Conference in Bandung (Bandung Conference) in April 1955, a number of countries in Asia and Africa managed to gain its independence. The Bandung Conference was later developed to became the Non-Aligned Movement. In the United Nations 15th General Assembly on September 30, 1960, Soekarno called the importance for building a new world order that encompass world peace and prosperity. Soekarno wanted the UN to be a universal, strong and well-functioning organization, based on the principles of Pancasila.
In the global world, Soekarno is still fondly remembered for his persistence to promoting world peace and international cooperation that are fair and equal. Some countries perpetuate his name to a street name, as in Egypt (Ahmed Soekarno Street, Cairo), Morocco (Rue Soekarno, Rabat), and Pakistan (Soekarno Square Khyber Bazar, Peshawar, and Soekarno Bazar, Lahore).
Soekarno holds honorary doctorates from 26 universities around the world. 19 of them are from foreign universities: Far Eastern University, The Philippines (1951), Michigan University and Columbia University, USA (1956), Berlin University, West Germany (1956), Lomonasov University, USSR (1956), Beograd University, Yugoslavia (1956), Karlova University, Chechoslovakia (1959), Beograd University, Yugoslavia (1956), Istanbul University, Turkey (1959), Warsaw University, Poland (1959), Brasil University, Brasil (1959), Sofia University, Bulgaria (1960), Bucharest University, Romania (1960), Budapest University, Poland (1960), Al Azhar University, Egypt (1960), La-Paz University, Bolivia (1960), Royal Khmere University, Cambodia (1964), University of the Philippines, The Philippines (1964) and Pyongyang University, North Korea (1964). Seven other degrees are from outstanding Indonesian universities: Universitas Gadjah Mada (1951), Institut Teknologi Bandung (1962), Universitas Indonesia (1963), Universitas Hasanuddin (1963), Institut Agama Islam Negeri (1964), Universitas Padjadjaran (1964), and Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (1965).
Sukarno died and was buried in Blitar, Indonesia, on June 21, 1970. In April 2005, South Africa awarded Soekarno a first-class star award The Order of the Supreme Companions of OR Tambo as he is considered instrumental in providing the inspiration for the struggle of South African people.