The Symbolic Imagination of Nationhood: An Analysis of Muhammad Ali Pasha’s Poem About Flag and Coat of Arms of Indonesia
The paper analyzes Muhammad Ali Pasha’s poem “About Flag and Coat of Arms of Indonesia” from his collection Romantic Whispers of the Archipelago. It argues that the poem uses metaphor, imagery, and symbolism to explore how Indonesia’s national symbols—the flag (Sang Merah Putih) and the Garuda Pancasila emblem—shape cultural memory and national identity. By linking the symbols to their historical origins, mythological roots, and the philosophical principles of Pancasila, the poem portrays them as living embodiments of unity, struggle, and collective ideals. The analysis situates Pasha’s work within poetic nationalism, showing how literature reinforces shared identity by transforming symbols into carriers of history, values, and cultural continuity.