“Margono is one of those who meet the requirements, and we have nominated him,” Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf told journalists on Monday at the Presidential Palace complex in Central Jakarta.
Raden Mas Margono Djojohadikusumo, the grandfather of President Prabowo Subianto, is included among 18 figures nominated for Indonesia’s national hero status this year. Saifullah, also known as Gus Ipul, confirmed the nomination ahead of the government’s planned announcement of recipients on National Heroes Day.
Did You Know? Born in Purwokerto, Central Java, in 1894, Margono served as a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence in 1945 and founded Bank Negara Indonesia as its first president director in 1946.
Margono’s nomination originated from the public through an organization associated with Banyumas called Seruan Eling Banyumasan, according to Kompas. The proposal was submitted in March 2025 and subsequently endorsed by the Central Java provincial administration before the Central Java Governor forwarded the recommendation to the Ministry of Social Affairs on April 6, 2026.
As reported by the Independent Observer, President Prabowo Subianto received proposals from the Council for Titles, Medals, and Honors during a meeting with Culture Minister Fadli Zon at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday.
The vetting process involved a multi-tiered evaluation starting with the Regional Title Research and Assessment Team at the regency and provincial levels, followed by the Social Affairs Ministry’s central team, before a full council session deliberated the findings.
Expert Insight: The multi-tiered evaluation system requires community and local government proposals to clear municipal, provincial, and ministerial hurdles before reaching the Appraisal Council, ensuring that historical figures undergo a structured administrative review before final executive consideration.
Operating as a presidential body, the National Heroes Title Council reviews, debates, and authenticates candidate submissions before passing its final suggestions on to the nation’s leader. Saifullah noted that the final authority to confer national hero titles rests entirely with the president.
The government is likely to announce the recipients on November 10, coinciding with National Heroes Day, mirroring the timeline from the previous year when Prabowo officially announced 10 national figures awarded the title on November 10, 2025.
The nomination originated from the public through an organization called Seruan Eling Banyumasan and received endorsement from the Central Java provincial administration.
Born in Purwokerto in 1894, Margono was a member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence in 1945 and founded Bank Negara Indonesia in 1946 as its first president director.
The president has the final authority to confer national hero titles after receiving recommendations from the Council for Titles, Decorations, and Honors.
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