Kelanawisata.id, Yogyakarta - To commemorate the life journey of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, Mataram Foundations, in collaboration with Cerita Jogjakarta, organized the “Napak Tilas Jejak Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX” event (05/09). The event was held to commemorate his life and struggles—a figure known not only as the Sultan of the Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Sultanate but also as a statesman who played a role in the history of the founding of the Republic of Indonesia.

Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX was born Gusti Raden Mas (GRM) Dorodjatun at Ndalem Pakuningratan in Yogyakarta on April 12, 1912. He was the son of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono VIII and Raden Ajeng Kustilah.

He did not spend his entire childhood within the palace grounds. From the age of four, he was entrusted to a Dutch family and received a Western-style education. His educational journey continued in Europe at Leiden University in the Netherlands, where he majored in Indology, studying the history, culture, language, and government of the Dutch East Indies.

In 1940, at the age of 28, he ascended the throne as Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX. The accession process required intense political negotiations with the Dutch colonial authorities, who sought to maintain full control over various aspects of the Sultanate’s government. In a story passed down through generations within the palace, it is said that in the midst of this deadlock, he received a kind of whisper or inner guidance from his ancestors—a conviction that Dutch rule in the archipelago would not last much longer. It was this conviction that is said to have strengthened his resolve to ultimately agree to a political treaty with the Dutch government.

After independence of Indonesia, specifically on September 5, 1945, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, together with Paku Alam VIII, declared their full allegiance to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. His journey of service continued at the national level, and the state once again placed its trust in him. Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono was appointed Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia during the first term of President Soeharto’s administration, from March 24, 1973, to March 23, 1978. In addition, Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX also played a significant role in the development of the Scouting movement in Indonesia.

To commemorate his life’s journey and struggles, Mataram Foundations, together with the Cerita Jogjakarta community, organized the “Tracing the Footsteps of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX” event on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The event was attended by more than 25 enthusiastic participants who explored various historic sites in the city of Yogyakarta. The route began at Ndalem Pakuningratan, the birthplace of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, and continued to Kamandungan Lor and Bangsal Pagelaran. Participants then stopped at the Monument Commemorating the General Offensive of March 1, before the event concluded at Gadri Resto.

This historical tour serves as a reminder that the independence and special status enjoyed by Yogyakarta to this day did not come about by chance. All of this is inseparable from the courage, wisdom, and resolve of Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX as a leader. By retracing the footsteps and visiting the places associated with his historical journey, the current generation is not only invited to remember but also to understand and emulate his spirit of nationalism and his love for the homeland.