The spirit of the Youth Pledge continues to shape Indonesian national identity and is reflected in the country’s official motto, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (“Unity in Diversity”), which emphasizes unity amid profound diversity (Foulcher, 2000). 

Why Bahasa Indonesia?

Contrary to common assumptions, Bahasa Indonesia is not an artificial language. It developed from a variety of Malay that had long functioned as a lingua franca throughout the Indonesian archipelago, particularly in trade, education, and religious activities. During the colonial period, Malay was already used in schools and administrative contexts and became associated with modern knowledge and social mobility.

At the beginning of the national movement, three languages were considered as potential national languages: Dutch, Javanese, and Malay. Dutch, although institutionally established, was unpopular among the population, difficult to access, and lacked global recognition as a language of wider communication. Javanese, spoken by approximately 48% of the population, possessed a rich literary tradition but was characterized by complex speech levels closely tied to social hierarchies. This raised concerns about political dominance by the Javanese ethnic group. Malay, by contrast, was ultimately chosen because it was relatively easy to learn, socially egalitarian, and ethnically neutral. Although it was the mother tongue of only about 5% of the population, it had been used for centuries as a unifying means of communication across ethnic boundaries (Paauw, 2009).

According to Zein (2020), the linguistic foundation of Bahasa Indonesia was primarily based on a Malay variety spoken in the Riau region. This variety was later standardized and officially named Bahasa Indonesia. Over time, however, the language has evolved beyond its original base, incorporating diverse linguistic, social, and cultural influences from across the archipelago. These developments highlight the dynamic and adaptive nature of Bahasa Indonesia.

Bahasa Indonesia After Independence

Indonesia achieved its independence in 1945 after a long and challenging struggle. Since then, Bahasa Indonesia has served as the country’s official language and is used in nearly all domains of public and private life, including government, education, media, and everyday communication. Despite the continued vitality of regional languages, most Indonesians are multilingual. Bahasa Indonesia is typically acquired as a second language through formal schooling, mass media, and daily social interaction (Ridwan, 2018).

In recent years, Bahasa Indonesia has increasingly attracted global attention, not only as the national language of Indonesia but also as a potential international language. While its role as a unifying language within one of the world’s most linguistically diverse nations is well established, its growing presence beyond national borders marks a new phase in its historical development.

Today, Bahasa Indonesia is taught in more than 60 countries through over 600 educational institutions worldwide. These institutions include universities, language centers, cultural institutes, and diplomatic programs, and they are spread across Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australia. The widespread teaching of Bahasa Indonesia reflects growing international interest driven by academic research, economic cooperation, diplomacy, tourism, and cultural exchange.

A key driver of this global expansion is the Indonesian for Speakers of Other Languages program (BIPA), which has become an important instrument of Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy. Through language education, Indonesia promotes mutual understanding and projects soft power, allowing foreign learners to engage with Indonesian society, culture, and values through linguistic competence.

International recognition of Bahasa Indonesia gained further momentum in 2023, when it was designated as one of the official languages of UNESCO. This recognition underscores the language’s growing relevance in global educational and cultural contexts and strengthens its symbolic and practical standing at the international level.

Building on this momentum, Indonesia has articulated a strategic ambition to elevate Bahasa Indonesia to the status of an official language of the United Nations. The year 2045 has been identified as a key target in this effort. Although the process of adopting a new official language within the UN system is highly complex and requires extensive political, diplomatic, and financial consensus among member states, the ambition itself is significant. It signals Indonesia’s confidence in the global potential of its national language and its broader aspiration to play a more prominent role in international affairs.

In conclusion, Bahasa Indonesia is far more than a mere tool of communication. It is not an artificial language, but a standardized form derived from Riau Malay, one of the many varieties of Malay. As such, it serves as a powerful symbol of national unity and collective identity in one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Its recent recognition by UNESCO marks a new chapter in the history of Bahasa Indonesia and further reinforces its role not only as Indonesia’s national language, but also as a language of growing global significance.

Sources: 

BPS-Statistics Indonesia (2021): Berita Resmi Statistik. Hasil Sensus Penduduk 2020. Jakarta.

Foulcher, Keith (2000): Sumpah Pemuda: the making and meaning of a symbol of Indonesian nationhood. In: Asian Studies Review (24) 3, 377-410.

Paauw, Scott (2009): One Land, One Nation, One Language: An Analysis of Indonesia’s National Language Policy. In: University of Rochester Working Papers in the Language Science (5) 1, 2-16.

Ridwan, Muhammad (2018): National and Official Language: The Long Journey of Indonesian Language. In: BIRCI (Budapest International Research and Critics Institute (BIRCI-Journal): Humanities and Social Sciences) (1 ) 2, 72-78.

Zein, Subhan (2020): Language Policy in Superdiverse Indonesia. New York : Routledge, 2020. | Series: Routledge studies in sociolinguistics: Routledge.