How to Pronounce Sukarno

Meaning and Context

Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo on June 6, 1901, was the charismatic and pivotal founding President of the Republic of Indonesia, serving from 1945 until 1967. As the primary proclaimer of Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945, he engineered a unifying national philosophy known as Pancasila, which remains the state's foundational ideological framework. His leadership during the Indonesian National Revolution against Dutch colonial rule cemented his status as a national hero and a towering figure in the anti-colonial movement across Asia and Africa. Sukarno's presidency, often referred to as the Guided Democracy period, was marked by a vigorous foreign policy of non-alignment, co-founding the Bandung Conference in 1955, which laid the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement. His tenure ultimately ended with the transition to the New Order regime under General Suharto, but his legacy as Bung Karno (Brother Karno) endures as the architect of modern Indonesia.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Sukarno" is the standardized and most widely accepted spelling in English and Indonesian, following the post-1972 spelling reform (Ejaan Yang Disempurnakan) in Indonesia. Prior to this, the older Dutch-influenced spelling "Soekarno" was prevalent and remains historically accurate and commonly seen in older texts and academic works; both are considered correct, with "Soekarno" often signaling a more formal or historical context. Common misspellings and typos include "Sukarna" (swapping the final 'o' for an 'a'), "Sukarto" (a conflation with his successor, Suharto), and "Sukurno". The "oe" digraph in the older spelling is sometimes incorrectly rendered as "Soekarna" or "Suekarno". It is also important to note the single 'n' in "Sukarno," as "Sukarnno" with a double 'n' is a frequent typographical error.

Example Sentences

Scholars argue that Sukarno's ability to synthesize nationalist, Islamic, and Marxist ideas was crucial in uniting the diverse archipelago during the independence struggle.

Visiting the Proclamation Monument in Jakarta offers a profound connection to the moment Sukarno and Hatta declared Indonesia's sovereignty.

Many of Sukarno's grand architectural projects, like the National Monument (Monas) and the Istiqlal Mosque, still define the skyline of the capital city.

His impassioned speeches, advocating for Marhaenism (his version of populism), mobilized millions of ordinary Indonesians.

The political instability and economic challenges of the mid-1960s, however, led to Sukarno's gradual sidelining from power.

Modern analyses of his Guided Democracy system critique its centralization of authority while acknowledging its aim to stabilize a fractious parliamentary system.

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