Every year on June 1, Indonesia commemorates the Birth of Pancasila Day, a sacred moment marking the inception of the nation’s foundational ideology that unites the Indonesians. Pancasila, conceived by the first President of Indonesia, Ir. Soekarno, on June 1, 1945, remains the cornerstone in maintaining the integrity and diversity of Indonesia. This commemoration not only serves as a historical symbol but also reminds us of the importance of national spirit, tolerance, and cooperation embedded in Pancasila’s five principles.
The Rector and staff of Universitas Terbuka (UT) held a ceremony to commemorate Pancasila Day in the courtyard of the Central Library and Archives Building on Monday, June 3, 2024. The theme set by Badan Pembinaan Ideologi Pancasila Republik Indonesia (BPIP RI) for this year’s ceremony was “Pancasila as the Unifying Spirit of the Nation Towards Indonesia Emas 2045.” UT Rector Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., acted as the ceremony supervisor and delivered a speech from BPIP RI.
This year’s Pancasila Day highlights Pancasila’s role in uniting a diverse nation comprised of various ethnicities, religions, cultures, and languages. The values embodied in Pancasila guide the nation’s life to align with the founding ideals. Pancasila promotes inclusivity, tolerance, and mutual cooperation, weaving the diverse Indonesian society into the national identity of “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika” (Unity in Diversity).
In this historic moment, the Indonesians are encouraged to deeply integrate Pancasila’s values into every aspect of societal, national, and state life. As a static table, Pancasila has proven capable of uniting Indonesia in the face of numerous historical challenges, ensuring the country’s strong and resilient standing. As a dynamic guiding star, Pancasila leads Indonesia towards progress and prosperity in the current era of technological and informational globalization.
Pancasila must always be internalized and upheld as an operative ideology felt and beneficial to all Indonesians. Beyond regulations based on Pancasila’s spirit, exemplary ethics, integrity, and character from leaders and citizens alike are essential.
This Pancasila Day serves as a reminder for all Indonesians to consistently practice and embody Pancasila’s values in everyday life. Given the rapid advancement of global communication technology, Pancasila is hoped to act as a filter preventing future disorientation. The widespread use of technology and smartphones to access information should be wisely utilized to disseminate positive content and narratives reflecting Pancasila’s values in societal, national, and state life.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Ojat emphasized mainstreaming Pancasila using modern methods to face the demographic bonus, positioning millennials and Gen-Z as the main drivers of national development. With a strong Pancasila spirit, there is confidence that all challenges faced by Indonesia can be overcome. Amidst the global crisis, Indonesia has managed to maintain economic, social, and political stability, a success attributed to the collective effort of all citizens with Pancasila as the foundational ideology.
May this Pancasila Day boost our spirit to continuously practice Pancasila for an advanced, just, prosperous, and respected Indonesia on the global stage. Happy Pancasila Day!
