Honoring and Remembering President Soekarno’s Legacy through Bung Karno Month in Bali

The 7th Bung Karno Month in 2025 was officially inaugurated by the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, on Sunday, June 1st, 2025, at the Taman Werdhi Budaya Art Centre in Denpasar. 

The event carries the theme Prana Jagat Kerthi: Bung Karno’s Masterpieces as a Symbol of Universal Harmony, serving as a tribute to Indonesia’s first President, Ir. Soekarno, and as a call to the younger generation and the public at large to never forget the nation’s history.

The Provincial Government of Bali has allocated a total of IDR 115 million from the regional budget (APBD) to fund prizes for various competitions held throughout the month. 

“This prize money is allocated from the APBD. Anyone interested in joining the competitions is welcome,” Governor Koster said during his opening speech in front of attending students.

In addition to the government funding, both the Governor and the Deputy Governor of Bali plan to contribute additional personal prizes to further motivate youth participation and reinforce Bung Karno’s values through creative competition.

Over the course of Bung Karno Month, a range of competitions will be held, including a musical interpretation of Bung Karno’s poem Sudah Ber-Ibu Kembali, a short film competition themed Self-Reliant Economy Based on Balinese Local Wisdom, and a documentary film competition focused on Bali’s Cultural Resilience Amid Globalization. These contests are open to both students and the general public.

Governor Koster emphasized that the purpose of this commemoration is to inspire Bali’s younger generation to continuously develop themselves into highly skilled, productive, and competitive human resources. 

He noted that the future of Bali’s development relies heavily on young people who are capable of preserving and promoting local wisdom and culture.

According to Antaranews, “Young people, we must uphold the quality and competitiveness of Bali so that we can thrive and remain relevant in an increasingly competitive global society,” he stated.

To this day, Bali remains the only province in Indonesia that consistently commemorates Bung Karno Month every June. 

The purpose is not only to honor the founding father of the nation but also to embed his spirit into the lives of the people and align with Bali’s development vision, Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali.

This year’s theme, Prana Jagat Kerthi, reflects the belief that Bung Karno’s teachings and achievements are part of a grand universal harmony, resonating with the vision of preserving the sanctity and balance of Bali’s natural and cultural environment to ensure a prosperous and joyful life for its people.

Sources: Antara, Inilah.com

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