Yogyakarta – Yogyakarta Governor, Sri Sultan HB X, fully supports the nomination of the first rector of UGM, Prof. Dr. Sardjito as a national hero. According to Sultan, history has recorded the extraordinary journey of Prof. Sardjito in medical and education sectors in Indonesia. In each of the responsibility, Prof. Sardjito was fullly aware of his position as Indonesia’s nationalist.
"During 80 years of his life, Sardjito always worked for the community and met his responsibilities as a physician, educator, as well as freedom fighter. Therefore, as Governor and in my personal opinion, I support the proposal to declare him a hero," Sri Sultan HB X said in his speech at the Seminar on Prof. Dr. Sardjito as a National Hero in Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Wednesday (11/4).
Sultan added Sardjito seems like a forgotten hero. In fact, his service was very great in the struggle for Independence, especially in health care services to freedom fighters. At that time, Sardjito sought for the availability of medicines and vitamins for the soldiers. In addition, he built a health post for troops in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas.
As a founding father, Sultan added, Sardjito also has laid the foundations of thought and direction of education at UGM which at that time was the foundation of Indonesian people to achieve progress. In fact, becoming UGM Rector at that time was a daunting duty. There was no abundant income from student tuition fees and profit of building rental as today.
"UGM building couldn’t accommodate all students. Moreover, it’s hard to get professors at that time. Under these conditions, Sardjito performed with high ideals to build UGM," he explained.
In this opportunity Sultan also assessed currently there are fewer means for students, particularly UGM to unite their interests. Various social classes and backgrounds of science increasingly separate and alienate students from reality. "We have not reached the lofty ideal of Sardjito to be a populist intellectual," he explained.
Meanwhile, the Rector of UII, Prof. Dr. Edy Suandi Hamid, M.Ec., said not many people know that Prof. Dr. Sardjito also served as Rector of UII for seven years from 1963-1970. As a reward for his services and struggle, a building in UII was named after his.
"His service was not only in regional but also national to international levels," Edy said.
One thing that cannot be forgotten from Prof. Sardjito is when he opened UII branches in various areas such as Gorontalo, Cirebon, Madison, Kediri, etc, he opened up institutions which at that time did not have tempting economic value/business but marginalized and remote areas.
UGM Historian, Prof. Dr. Djoko Suryo in the seminar also supported the award of national hero to Prof. Dr. Sardjito. He considered that actually and factually Prof. Sardjito has become a national hero because he was buried in Semaki Heroes Cemetery Yogyakarta.
"We just need formality as required by the Act No. 20/2009 regarding to the Title, Signs Services and Signs of Honor that I think everything is fulfilled," Djoko said.
The plan is welcomed by the family. The adopted child of Prof. Dr. Sardjito, Budi Santoso, explained the family was preparing a variety of papers and documents required. Meanwhile, honors and award charters received by Sardjito have been submitted at the Beteng Vredeburg Museum.
"The family certainly appreciates and supports the plan of national hero award," Budi said.
Team Leader of the Hero title Proposal for Prof. Dr. Sardjito, Prof. Dr. dr. Sutaryo, Sp.A (K) explained that the proposal of the hero title came from UGM,
UGM Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, UII and supported by the family. Sutaryo hoped this year the government could give the title of hero to the pioneer of Pancasila education in Indonesia.
"Prof. Sardjito was also the founder of the Pancasila education in Indonesia," Sutaryo said.
Up to now there are at least eight UGM senior figures that have been awarded the title of national hero. They are Prof. Dr. Abdurrachman Saleh, Dr. (HC) Ir. Sukarno, Dr. (HC) Ki Hajar Dewantara, Dr. (HC), Moh. Hatta, Prof. Ir. Herman Johanes, Prof. Dr. Suharso, Prof. Supomo, and Sri Sultan HB IX.
Prof. Dr. Sardjito was born on August 13, 1889 at Purwadadi, Magetan, Madiun, East Java. He died on May 5, 1970. His father was Sadjit, a teacher. His had only one son named Pek Poedji Utomo who died in 2005.