The Indonesian proclamation of Independence is 25 words long.
We, the Indonesian people, proclaim our independence.
Details concerning the transfer of power etc. will be arranged with care, and in the shortest possible time.
Jakarta, 17th August 05.
On behalf of the Indonesian people.
Soekarno/Hatta
*05 – Japanese Imperial year 2605
Soekarno and Hatta’s declaration is the nation-building equivalent of a Minimum Viable Product.
Like a lot of MVPs, a huge amount of groundwork had been done to make it possible, and there was still almost everything to do.
It’s short, and it leaves plenty of questions open, but once it was out in the world it was enough to see if anyone was buying.
73 years ago, a nation did.
Happy birthday Indonesia – Merdeka!