Ahmad Soebardjo

Raden Ahmad Soebardjo Djojoadisoerjo (Karawang Regency, West Java, 23 March 1896 – 15 December 1978) was a diplomat, one of Indonesia's founding fathers, and an Indonesian national hero. He was the first Foreign Minister of Indonesia. In 1933, he received the degree Meester in de Rechten from Leiden University, Netherlands.

As a student, he was active in the fight for Indonesian independence through several organizations such as Jong Java and the Indonesian Students Association in the Netherlands, the Perhimpoenan Indonesia. He is also a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPKI). On 16 August 1945, Ahmad and the others bring Soekarno and Hatta to Rengasdengklok, at nights, he dedicated as an old faction delegate to return Soekarno and Hatta from Rengasdengklok then begin preparing for the proclamation of Indonesian independence and assisting Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta formulated the basis of the state. On 19 August 1945, two days after the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on 17 August 1945, Sukarno appointed Soebardjo as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Presidential Cabinet, Indonesia's first cabinet for 4 months and immediately started the first Foreign Ministry office at his own residence in Jalan Cikini raya. Subardjo served as Minister of Foreign Affairs once again from 1951 to 1952 in Sukiman's Cabinet.

What can we learn from this national hero's history is, he fought against the invaders with anti-colonial attitude, dared to take responsibility and risked his life for the sake of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia in the event rengasdengklok, assisted government affairs in the independence of Indonesia, helped resolve conflicts between the old and young in Independence, and filled the government as minister in the cabinet Ir. Soekarno.

Ahmad Soebardjo's characters we can emulate are, his reponsibility, his high spirit of patriotism and nationalism, and his love to Indonesia. He is also fair, wise, and not arrogant. We should never give up and always be open-minded on every aspect.