Indonesian National Student Movement

The Indonesian National Student Movement (Indonesian: Gerakan Mahasiswa Nasional Indonesia; abbreviated as GMNI or, according to the writing style on the emblem, GmnI) is one of the extracampus student organisations found in almost all parts of Indonesia, especially cities or regencies with universities. GMNI was established on 23 March 1954 in Surabaya (the idea was born in Jakarta). GMNI is an organisation resulting from the merger or fusion of three previously established student organisations; the Marhaen Student Movement (based in Yogyakarta), the Free Student Movement (based in Surabaya), and the Indonesian Democratic Student Movement (based in Jakarta).
Currently, the structure of the GMNI Central Leadership Council (DPP) for the 2019‒2022 period is chaired by Arjuna Putra Aldino with the secretary general M. Ageng Dendy Setiawan.
The idea for a merger first emerged from the chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Student Movement, S.M. Hadiprabowo in September 1953. Based on the desire to unite nationalist student organisations, S.M Hadiprabowo then arranged a meeting with the leaders of the other two organisations. Hadiprabowo met Slamet Djajawidjaja, Slamet Rahardjo and Haruman from the Gerakan Mahasiswa Merdeka. He then met Wahyu Widodo, Subagio Masrukin, and Sri Sumantri from the Marhaenis Student Movement.
The leaders of the three organisations finally agreed to hold a meeting. The meeting was held at the official residence of the Mayor of Jakarta (equivalent to the current Governor of Jakarta), Soediro. During the meeting, the three organisations reached an agreement to fuse, both organisationally and ideologically. During the meeting, the name Gerakan Mahasiswa Nasional Indonesia (GMNI) was chosen as the name of the fused organisation, and nationalism and marhaenism were agreed to be the ideologies of GMNI. In addition to these two things, the meeting also decided that the first GMNI Congress would be held in Surabaya.
On 23 March 1954, the first GMNI Congress was held with the direct blessing of President Sukarno. The first congress appointed S.M Hadiprabowo as the first chairman of GMNI. The date was also patented as the GMNI's birthday and commemorated as dies natalis or GMNI's birthday.
Due to ideological similarities and the influence of Sukarno and nationalist political figures, the GMNI gradually became an underbow and affiliated student wing of the Indonesian National Party (PNI), the party formed and led by Soekarno. However, the relationship between the PNI and GMNI was officially broken after the New Order regime implemented a party fusion policy in 1973, in which the PNI was merged with other nationalist parties into the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
The GMNI emblem is a shield with six corners, three at the top and three at the bottom. The top three corners represent the three precepts (trisila) of marhaenism – the ideology created by Soekarno and officially adopted by the organisation – namely Socio-nationalism, Socio-democracy, and the belief of God in multiculturalism. While the 3 corners underneath symbolise the tridharma of higher education, namely: education, research, and service.
The red and white colours represent the Red and White Flag, red means courage and white means sacred, while black means firmness. The star symbolises the nobleness of ideals. The bull is a symbol of the marhaen people, which means GMNI exists to defend the marhaen people.
As one of the oldest student organisations in Indonesia, GMNI has also contributed to producing well-known cadres. The following are some names of GMNI alumni who became national figures:
Some of the activities carried out by GMNI include demonstrations, literacy, cadreisation, and advocacy.