Jakarta – The government has confirmed that the rewrite of Indonesia’s National History will be officially launched on December 14th, coinciding with National History Day. This major project, coordinated by the Ministry of Culture, has undergone a lengthy process since its inception by a multidisciplinary team of historians from various institutions.
Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, stated that all stages of the drafting process are now entering their final stages. He emphasized that the launch of the rewrite follows a series of multi-layered editing processes involving volume editors, language editors, and external historians. He added that he had not yet received the final manuscript as the entire process is being handled entirely by the team of historians.
“Yes, it’s being finalized. But I haven’t seen a single page, because the entire team of historians is working on it,” Fadli said when contacted regarding the project’s progress.
The rewrite was previously scheduled to launch on August 17, 2025. However, this schedule has been delayed due to several necessary improvements.
“There was talk of an alternative launch date in October or November 10th, coinciding with Heroes’ Day, before the official launch was finally decided on National History Day, December 14th,” he said.
Rewriting Indonesian National History is one of the government’s strategic initiatives to align historical understanding with the latest findings and perspectives. This project also provides a space for public reflection, especially as various historical issues are again gaining widespread public attention, including debates regarding theories about the origins of civilization in the Indonesian archipelago.
Fadli explained that this project encompasses 10 major themes, organized into volumes. The writing begins with the Early History of the Indonesian Archipelago and continues through to depict the long journey of the Indonesian nation during the New Order and Reform eras.
“The ten volumes cover the Early History of the Indonesian Archipelago, starting from the New Order period, and the Reform era from 1999 to 2024,” he said.
Fadli believes that updating this historical writing is crucial so that future generations have a comprehensive and accurate reference regarding the nation’s journey. Through a rigorous scientific curation process, the government hopes this work will not only serve as a historical document but also as an intellectual foundation for the future development of national studies.
“The launch of this rewriting of national history is expected to provide a new perspective and strengthen public understanding of the dynamics of Indonesia’s journey as a nation that continues to develop,” he concluded.**
