In 1945, Pandji’s father was still 7 years old. He had asked her mother (grandmother of Pandji), “What is independence?” Initially, the grandmother replied to Pandji’s father confusedly. However then, she said, “If all of these (pointing to the surrounding environment) are ours.”

The boy asked again, “All are ours? Meaning that while traveling with train, we don’t need to pay?” The grandmother answered, “Yes!” (p 103). In fact, nowadays there is still no free lunch in this country. Through that dialogue, the author politically criticize the nation’s in-dependency.

Nevertheless, the rapper and composer of “Raise Your Hands for Indonesia” song also appreciated the contributions of many heroes. Our founding fathers fought for Motherland’s independence. During (1945-1948), his father’s house was at Yogyakarta. The fence was made of bamboo. It’s height similar to the adult waist. Approximately, the same as the gate house in Unyil and Pak Raden film series.

One day, when Pandji’s grandmother pushed the fence out, it was felt too hard. Then, she found a child who was killed by a stray bullet. His body was laid stiffly and lifelessly. The age of the child was similar to Pandji’s father at that time. He was still hand-holding arem-arem (traditional food made of rice) in his palm (p 104).

In the past, this book was in a form of e-book. Its online version has been downloaded more than 14,955 times. The launching of the printed book of Nasional.Is.Me was conducted at Jakarta Book Festival (2011). Recently, it has been reprinted 4 times. Remarkably, Nasional.Is.Me also carried an altruistic mission. The Hard Rock Cafe’s (HRC) broadcaster is applying the concept of sharing. By purchasing a book, its copy automatically provided freely to the youth of Indonesia who lived in rural areas. This charity program was supported by Bentang Pustaka and Sampoerna Foundation.

Systematically, this book consisted of 3 parts: Know Your Indonesia, Find Your Passion, and Work for the Future of Your People. In total, there are 10 chapters. From “A Request for A Contemplation” to “From Opening to Closing Sentence Line.” This 330 pages book is a kind of manifesto. The summary of some answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) for Pandji’s fans about his love to Indonesia.

One keen analysis of this former Proactive Provocative’s presenter was when he differentiated between nationalism in United States and Indonesia. According to this coffee lover, the US country is consisted of many immigrants who are united through sport. While the world has football (soccer), they created their own: American Football. Why? Due the modern football were coming from England. Native Americans also loved basketball a lot. Through both these 2 sports, all immigrants were participating through the “joint product”. Therefore, nation’s unity is created.

Then, the most important question is, “In Indonesia, what kind of nationalism that we have?” According to Pandji, It is Pancasila, the 5 basic principles. That was in line with Anand Krishna’s opinion. Pancasila is the code of life’s happiness (The Jakarta Post, 13 July 2012).

Moreover, as saying by Bung Karno, Pancasila was Philosophie Grondslag, the basic philosophy on which all races, religions, diversities were resting in Motherland’s hug. It is the foundation in which uniting the difference between “me” and “you” in “our” area.

In this book, Pandji also investigated the history of human civilization. The Jakarta Gonzaga High School Alumnus believed that Pancasila has made Indonesia does not ended up like India. The country who separated with Pakistan after freed from England. The Islamic society (minority in India) thought that they will not be accommodated by the government. Moreover, they were afraid to the civil war between Islam and Hinduism because of some political interests.

Anybody known then that it was Mahatma Gandhi who held a hunger strike. The Mahatma would fast until the violence was ceased in India. Finally, they ended the civil war all over India, and Gandhi started to eat a mouthful of rice. However, the disintegration of India was inevitable.

Later, Pakistan founded their own Muslim community. After that, Muslim and Hindu population migrated to the region of India and Pakistan. It was recorded as the biggest human tragedy in the 20th century. Many housemates were forced to split up from their own families because of religious differences and beliefs.

In this context, Pancasila made Indonesia relatively democratic. The 5 basic principles is still unifying us from Sabang to Merauke. Pandji has written the book based on his experience sojourning across the archipelago.

The work of Pandji allowed him to do that. He traveled from Padang, Belitung, Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Manado, Makassar, Bali, to Jayapura. Those regions’s beauty painted a deep impression in his heart.

He wrote an unforgettable experience in Kupang, “Seeing the kids there, and hearing they sing Kuan Kefa song, a local tradition about how to heal homesickness… then listening the mothers singing together about unity called Lais Manekat while sitting under a shaded tree. I almost do not believe, it is just like in the movies, the sound of the wind is not blowing, but whistling… ” (p.155).

Indeed, this book ignited optimism’s flame in the midst of dense clouds because of the corrupt politics. The young man, Pandji appealed an altruistic calling to transform this beloved republic. Stating from ourselves in every self circumference based on each own professions. Perhaps, we will not see that bright future. However, the next generation, our grandchildren shall experience a better Indonesia. Happy reading!

Title: Nasional.Is.Me

Author: Pandji

Publisher: Bentang Pustaka Yogyakarta

The Forth Published at March 2012

Number of pages: xiv + 330

Price: Rp54.000

ISBN: 978-602-8811-53-8