Indonesian National Student Movement

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Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI)

The Indonesian National Student Movement, or GMNI, is an extra-campus student organization active in many Indonesian cities with universities. Its official language is Indonesian, and its headquarters are in Jakarta.

GMNI was founded on March 23, 1954, in Surabaya. It emerged from the merger of three groups: the Marhaen Student Movement (Yogyakarta), the Free Student Movement (Surabaya), and the Indonesian Democratic Student Movement (Jakarta). The idea to unite the groups came from S.M. Hadiprabowo in 1953. After meetings among the leaders, they agreed to fuse the groups, chose the name GMNI, and adopted nationalism and marhaenism as its guiding ideologies. The first GMNI Congress was held in Surabaya, and Hadiprabowo became the first chairman. The date is celebrated as GMNI’s birthday.

GMNI’s emblem is a six-point shield. The top three corners represent the three marhaenism precepts: socio-nationalism, socio-democracy, and belief in God in multiculturalism. The bottom three corners symbolize the tridharma of higher education: education, research, and service. The red and white colors come from Indonesia’s flag (red for courage, white for sacredness), with black meaning firmness. A star stands for noble ideals, and a bull represents the marhaen people.

As one of the oldest student organizations in the country, GMNI has produced many notable leaders. Its activities include demonstrations, literacy programs, cadre development, and advocacy.

GMNI’s formal ties to the Indonesian National Party ended after 1973, when the New Order regime merged nationalist parties into the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). The GMNI Central Leadership Council (DPP) for 2019–2022 was chaired by Arjuna Putra Aldino, with secretary-general M. Ageng Dendy Setiawan.