The Figure of Margono Djojohadikusumo: Founder of BNI and Grandfather of Prabowo Who Became a National Hero

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto awarded the title of National Hero to Raden Mas Margono Djojohadikusumo, who is also his grandfather, at the Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (10/11/2026).

The award of the National Hero title is based on the Decree of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Number 93/TK/Year 2026 concerning the Award of National Heroes.

"A national hero in the fields of politics and economy. Made extraordinary contributions during the independence struggle as the 62nd member of the BPUPKI." This statement was featured during the national hero award ceremony, quoted from the YouTube broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat.

For information, the proposal to nominate Raden Mas Margono Djojohadikusumo was put forth by local community members through the Eling Banyumasan appeal beginning in March 2025.

This recommendation was then forwarded by the Governor of Central Java until it was received by the Ministry of Social Affairs on April 6, 2026.

The Figure of Margono Djojohadikusumo

According to the Banyumas Archive and Library Office, Margono Djojohadikoesoemo was born in Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, on May 16, 1894.

Margono is a descendant of Raden Tumenggung Banyakwide or Panglima Banyakwide, known as a devoted follower of Prince Diponegoro in the Java War. His father is known to have served as the Assistant Wedana of Banyumas.

Margono's formal education began at the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) in Banyumas, where he attended from 1900 to 1907.

In his family life, Margono is the father of the prominent Indonesian economist, Soemitro Djojohadikoesoemo.

Margono also had two sons who fell during the Lengkong Battle, namely Captain Anumerta Soebianto Djojohadikoesoemo and Cadet Soejono Djojohadikoesoemo.

The names of his two sons were later immortalized by Soemitro as part of his children's names, namely Prabowo Subianto and Hashim Sujono.

KOMPAS.com/FIKA NURUL ULYA President Prabowo Subianto presents the national hero award to economic fighter and grandfather Margono Djojohadikusumo through heirs during the award ceremony at the State Palace, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (10/11/2026).

Founder of BNI

One day after Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta were inaugurated as President and Vice President of Indonesia, the government formed the Presidential Cabinet and the Temporary Supreme Advisory Council (DPAS).

In this formation, Margono was appointed as the first Chairman of DPAS. In this role, he proposed important ideas about the need for Indonesia to have a central bank or circulation bank as mandated by the 1945 Constitution.

On September 16, 1945, Margono was tasked with preparing the establishment of a financial institution that would become a state-owned bank.

Three days later, the Cabinet meeting decided to establish a state bank that would function as a circulation bank.

This plan was eventually realized on July 15, 1946, through the issuance of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 2 of 1946 concerning the Establishment of Bank Negara Indonesia.

In the process of establishing this institution, Margono was appointed as the first President Director of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).

Under his leadership, BNI developed into a crucial pillar in building Indonesia's economic sovereignty after independence.

The legal status of BNI was later changed to a limited liability company (persero) in 1970.

Margono Djojohadikoesoemo passed away in Jakarta on July 25, 1978, at the age of 84. His remains were interred in the family cemetery in Dawuhan, Banyumas, Central Java.