Sukarno

1st President of Indonesia (1901—1970)

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Indonesia rank#29

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Indonesia rank#29
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Lived 1901–1970, aged 69Indonesia

Indonesia PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
112 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in Indonesia
#29
Politicians
Era
1901–1970
Aged 69
Known for
Markant: W. Drees Sr.
1973

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

He declared a nation into being and spent two decades holding it together — first against the Dutch who wanted it back, then against the fractures within. The fall was swift: a coup attempt, a military takeover, house arrest until death.

Biography

About

Born Koesno Sosrodihardjo in 1901, Sukarno led Indonesia's nationalist movement through a decade of Dutch detention, released only when Japanese forces arrived in World War II. He and fellow nationalists collaborated with Japan to spread independence ideas, then seized the moment of surrender: on 17 August 1945, he and Mohammad Hatta declared Indonesia independent, and Sukarno became president. Four years of resistance — diplomatic and military — forced Dutch recognition in 1949, earning him the title "Father of Proclamation." After years of parliamentary turbulence he imposed "Guided Democrac…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Sukarno

Sukarno

saidundated

What really happened to her? How did she die?

— Reaction to Marilyn Monroe's death, Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver, p. 433

Sukarno

saidundated

Spank the Yanks and hit the Brits!

— Amerika kita seterika, Inggris kita linggis!

Sukarno

saidundated

This twentieth century has been a period of terrific dynamism.

— Speech at the Opening of the Bandung Conference

Sukarno

saidundated

But has man's political skill marched hand-in-hand with his technical and scientific skill? Man can chain lightning to his command-can be control the society in which be lives?

— Speech at the Opening of the Bandung Conference

Sukarno

saidundated