Jakarta – Minister of Culture Fadli Zon confirmed that the government is now entering the final stages of completing a major project to rewrite Indonesian National History.
After a lengthy process involving dozens of historians, experts, and an editorial team, the rewriting of history is scheduled to be officially launched on December 14th, coinciding with National History Day.
“Yes, it’s being finalized,” said Fadli Zon.
He explained that the launch has gone through various stages of editing and in-depth evaluation conducted independently by the historians involved.
“I haven’t seen a single page myself, because the entire team of historians is working on it,” he said.
The rewriting of Indonesian National History is a strategic project under the Ministry of Culture, assisted by a team of historians from various universities throughout Indonesia.
“External historians are also involved to ensure the writing is objective, comprehensive, and up to date with the latest research,” he said.
Based on input from historians, it was decided that the ideal launch date would be National History Day, December 14th. Fadli confirmed that the date was finalized, and the entire team is now racing to complete the final stages of preparation.
“Before the launch, there will be one or two more discussion sessions with historians from 34 universities to finalize the final results,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Restu Gunawan, Director General of Cultural and Tradition Protection at the Ministry of Culture, explained that the history rewriting was being carried out as an effort to comprehensively reconstruct important events for the Indonesian nation.
Restu assessed that this rewriting was carried out to update historical studies with the latest scientific approaches and to construct a more complete and representative historical narrative as part of the nation’s identity.
“Currently, the writing of the history book has entered the editing stage. Hopefully, it can be completed this year,” Restu said.
This rewriting is also part of the fourteen priority programs of the Directorate General of Cultural and Tradition Protection. Through a new approach, from scope and methods to scientific methodology, this project is expected to produce a national history work that is more accurate, modern, and relevant for future generations.
With finalization entering its final stages and the official launch schedule set, the government ensures that the rewriting of Indonesia’s National History will be a significant milestone in refreshing the nation’s understanding of history.
The launch on December 14th is expected to be a significant momentum for introducing a richer, more inclusive historical narrative that reflects the holistic journey of the Indonesian nation. [w.R]