The Ministry of Culture launched the book Indonesian History: National Dynamics in Global Currents in early December 2025. The ten-volume publication involves 123 authors from 34 universities and 11 non-university institutions. On the same occasion, Dec. 14 was also officially designated as National History Day, following a proposal by Indonesian historians.
One of the editors of the book, Professor Agus Suwignyo, a lecturer at the Department of History, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), together with his colleague Professor Sarkawi, stated that the publication of this book would lead to changes in the history curriculum taught in schools.
This is because history learning materials at the elementary, junior high, and senior high school levels are largely based on national history textbooks.
“There will certainly be changes, gradually and in stages. Students need to learn historical knowledge that has not previously been introduced,” he said on Tuesday (Jan. 6).
According to Professor Suwignyo, the launch of Indonesian history has inevitably sparked public concern about significant changes to historical narratives, including the possibility of emphasizing certain figures over others.
Such concerns, he noted, can only be properly assessed once all ten volumes are published, thoroughly read, and compared with previous models of national history.
Professor Suwignyo expressed hope that the publication of the book would encourage public debate and open up broader historical narratives, rather than focusing on only one or two segments while neglecting the richness of Indonesia’s historical experience as a whole.
“Personally, I would be pleased if this launch stimulates discussions in public spaces, communities, universities, and schools about Indonesian history,” he said.
Professor Suwignyo served as the editor responsible for designing the structure and content of Volume V, which aligns with the book’s broader framework on nineteenth-century Indonesia.
Volume V examines the history of the nineteenth century and introduces new paradigms for understanding knowledge, infrastructure, and law during that period.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Photograph: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia