On 17 August 1955 President Soeharto of Indonesia led the nation a celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Independence. This official commemorative record of 50 years of economic, industrial and social progress is an authoritative account of one people’s struggle against colonial rule, and their success in building a proud and strong nation. The land, the people and culture, the nation’s ancient heritage and its recent history are all seen through the eyes of a number of leading personalities. From the experiences of a nation working together over the first to years of its history, the book forward to Indonesia’s promising future.