Contemporary Heroism: The Resilience of the Nation and the Energy of National Resilience

EVERY 10th of November, our nation, Indonesia, commemorates Heroes' Day to honor the bravery and sacrifices of those who fought for independence.

The Battle of Surabaya on November 10, 1945, is not just a historical event but a testament that independence, sovereignty, and the honor of the nation must be fought for collectively.

This event teaches us that heroism is not only about the courage to face an enemy but also about the willingness to place national interests above personal ones.

In 2026, Heroes' Day carries the theme: “My Hero, My Inspiration, Walking Together, Continuing the Struggle.”

This theme reminds us that heroism should not be a mere ceremony or an homage to the past. Its values must be manifested through tangible actions in addressing national issues.

The question is, how does the current generation continue the struggle of the heroes amidst increasingly complex strategic environmental changes?

In the past, the Indonesian nation faced colonialism and armed threats, but today's challenges are more diverse.

Geopolitical competition, global economic uncertainty, technological advancement, climate crises, food and energy resilience, corruption, and social inequality are interlinked.

Threats to the state do not always take the form of armed conflict. Economic dependence, environmental degradation, weak institutions, and declining public trust can also undermine national resilience.

Why do I emphasize this? I recall the statement of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, who reminded us that Indonesia's journey towards becoming an advanced nation is not an easy road.

Many countries share similar aspirations, but not all succeed in realizing them. This commemoration should not merely serve as a reminder of the magnitude of the challenges but also as material for reflection on our readiness to face them.

These challenges are undoubtedly complex. However, we must not stop at worry or merely recognize various limitations.

Indeed, challenges should be a momentum for self-improvement, strengthening human resource capacity, developing knowledge, and encouraging innovation in various sectors.

The progress of a nation cannot rely solely on the wealth of natural resources or the magnitude of development ambitions, but is also determined by the ability of its people and institutions to learn, adapt, and innovate.

Indonesia not only needs to aspire to become an advanced nation but must also build the capacity to genuinely realize that ambition.

This view aligns with the concept of human security in the 1994 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report.

Security is not only about protecting the nation’s territory but also about safeguarding individuals from poverty, hunger, illness, job uncertainty, and environmental degradation.

Thus, national security and the welfare of the people are mutually reinforcing.

These challenges are evident in various events throughout October to early November 2026.

Student demonstrations on October 20 and 28 in several cities, for example, raised issues regarding living costs, handling forest and land fires, national spending priorities, anti-corruption efforts, and protection of civil liberties.

Such aspirations need to be objectively understood as a reminder that development requires communication, participation, and accountability.

Peaceful expression of opinions is a fundamental part of democracy that must be respected and addressed.

The forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan also illustrate that environmental issues are not merely ecological problems. Their impacts touch on health, economic activities, biodiversity, and community livelihoods.

As of October 24, 2026, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded approximately 25,409 hectares of land burned, with around 17,942 hectares still unextinguished according to preliminary monitoring.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia noted an inflation rate of 3.23 percent year-on-year for October 2026, with volatile food inflation at 5.81 percent. This situation needs to be anticipated as it affects the purchasing power of the people.

In the energy sector, President Prabowo discussed strengthening national energy resilience at a limited meeting at the Palace (November 3, 2026), including the development of E20 bioethanol.

All these events indicate that the struggle today is no longer merely about defending territorial sovereignty, but also about ensuring the state’s presence in protecting life, enhancing welfare, preserving the environment, and securing the future for upcoming generations.

In this context, various development agendas and the essence of 'Asta Cita' championed by President Prabowo need to be interpreted as an effort to refocus development on the interests of the people.

Ultimately, sovereignty should not only be understood as the state’s power over its territory, but should also be reflected in a national life that positions the people as the true holders of sovereignty.

The state must not just build for the people, but must ensure that the people are subjects, owners, and primary beneficiaries of every development policy.

Asta Cita and the Meaning of Contemporary Struggles

In this context, the Asta Cita of President Prabowo Subianto's government holds strategic relevance.

The eight missions of Asta Cita include strengthening the ideology of Pancasila and democracy, defense and food and energy independence, improving the quality of human resources, industrialization, rural development, governance reform, and development that considers the environment and culture. These agendas are part of efforts to realize Indonesia Gold 2045.

However, the success of Asta Cita cannot be measured merely by the number of programs or the size of the budget.

A more important measure is to what extent these policies create justice, improve welfare, strengthen national capacity, and build sustainable national resilience.

The thoughts of Mohammad Hatta are relevant for understanding this. Independence, for Hatta, must have social and economic significance for the people.

Political sovereignty is incomplete without welfare and fair opportunities. Therefore, development must truly be felt by the people, especially those vulnerable to economic pressures and environmental changes.

At least there are five heroic traits reflected in five attitudes.

First, courage and integrity. Past heroes bravely faced threats for the sake of the nation.

Today, that courage must manifest in fighting corruption, rejecting the abuse of power, ensuring fair law enforcement, and policies favoring public interests.

Integrity is a critical asset in building public trust in the state.

Second, sacrifice and commitment to the people. Food and energy independence means not only increasing production but also protecting farmers, fishermen, workers, small business operators, and vulnerable groups.

Development programs, including Free Nutritious Meals, education, and rural economic empowerment, must be implemented transparently, targeted, and measurable.

Amartya Sen's ideas in “Development as Freedom” reinforce this view. Sen explains that development is the process of expanding human freedoms and capabilities to lead valuable lives.

Economic growth alone is insufficient if the community still faces poverty, limited education, and poor health services.

Thus, the welfare of the people must be the primary measure of development success.

Third, unity and mutual cooperation. Indonesia's independence was fought for by various groups in society.

This same spirit needs to be realized through cooperation among the government, TNI, police, universities, the business world, civil society, and local communities.

Disaster management, environmental protection, food resilience, and digital literacy require cross-sector collaboration.

Elinor Ostrom, a 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics, demonstrates that communities can build collaborative institutions to manage resources sustainably through agreed-upon rules, trust, and mutual oversight.

Her thoughts are relevant for Indonesia: managing forests, water, and strategic resources requires both government capacity and community participation.

Mutual cooperation is not just a cultural legacy but a vital asset for strengthening national resilience.

Fourth, intelligence and innovation. The development of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and information warfare demands that Indonesia enhance mastery of science and technology.

Nationalism cannot be realized solely through symbols and slogans but must also be reflected in the ability to create technology, increase productivity, and combat misinformation.

Joseph S. Nye's concept of soft power explains that a nation's strength comes not only from military and economic prowess but also from the appeal of its values, culture, and legitimacy.

Therefore, Indonesia must build strength that not only commands respect but also earns trust through democracy, law enforcement, education, innovation, and a commitment to peace.

Fifth, concern for the environment and future generations. Development must not sacrifice the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Emil Salim's thoughts emphasize the necessity of integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions into development.

Economic growth, downstream processing, and food and energy independence must go hand in hand with ecosystem protection. Preserving forests, water resources, and the environment is a form of dedication to the homeland.

Strengthening National Resilience

From a strategic and global perspective, contemporary heroism also means building the resilience of the nation in facing crises.

National resilience is not only determined by military strength but also by the quality of institutions, economic independence, social unity, environmental resilience, technological mastery, and public trust in government.

Therefore, three strategic steps are needed. First, integrate national character education with geopolitical, technological, environmental, and civic literacy so that the youth develop critical awareness and national responsibility.

Second, strengthen transparent, participatory, and evidence-based development governance so that the implementation of Asta Cita can be evaluated based on real outcomes.

Third, build collaboration between government, universities, the business sector, and society to generate innovations and solutions for national issues.

Universities have an important responsibility in this agenda. Campuses must become centers for knowledge development, critical thinking, and policy recommendations that address both national and global challenges.

Strategic and global studies need to connect geopolitical dynamics with developmental interests, such as food, energy, environmental resilience, defense, and public welfare. Thus, scientific knowledge becomes an instrument of service to the nation.

Ultimately, this Heroes' Day on November 10 should be a momentum to expand the meaning of struggle.

Past heroes have bequeathed independence through bravery and sacrifice. The current generation is responsible for maintaining it through integrity, competence, unity, justice, and sustainability.

The government must ensure that development truly benefits the people, while society must actively participate in overseeing, critiquing, and constructively building the nation.

Continuing the struggle does not mean repeating past forms of struggle, but rather passing on its values according to the challenges of the times.

If heroes of the past fought for Indonesia's independence, now the task of future generations is to ensure Indonesia becomes a sovereign, just, prosperous, resilient, and dignified nation.

True heroism is not only remembered through names etched in history but is measured by the benefits of service to the nation.

Today's heroes are those who bravely uphold the truth, advocate for justice, protect lives, and build Indonesia's future.