Returning to Mother Pertiwi's Embrace: When Foreign Glamour Fades Before the Call of the Heart

The inspiring true story of Indra Jaya Laksana letting go of his foreign citizenship to reclaim sovereignty in his homeland.

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Have you ever been scrolling through your timeline only to encounter videos romanticizing life abroad? The "just flee first" trend once went viral everywhere, as if moving to the West were an instant toll road to a happy, established, and problem-free life. Youth success standards have long been measured by how far one can travel and sever ties with their Indonesian identity.

Yet, what happens when reality falls far short of expectations? Beneath the glittering lights of European cities lie silent stories rarely captured by cameras. Why would someone who has lived in the Netherlands for decades choose to relinquish their foreign citizenship simply to become a citizen of the Republic of Indonesia (WNI) once more? What is the profound struggle of an illegal adoption victim who lost his identity as an infant to reclaim his rightful citizenship?

These answers unfold through the journey of Indra Jaya Laksana, explored extensively on the Ministry of Law's Podcast What's Up. As an Indonesian victim of illegal adoption whisked away to the Netherlands as a baby, Indra had to walk a long, winding road before realizing that his entire existence stood upon a flawed foundation. Upon discovering he was a victim of abduction disguised under illegal adoption procedures, Indra resolved to fight for his right to return as an Indonesian citizen and build his life on his native soil.

Abroad We Are Mere Numbers, at Home We Possess a Soul

Many assume that living in a developed nation guarantees a stress-free existence. In reality, it is far from the truth. Indra spoke candidly about how exhausting life in a foreign land truly is. Without relatives, surrounded by a culturally cold environment, battling soaring living costs, and facing mounting economic pressures day after day—having a powerful passport in your wallet means little if your soul feels entirely hollow.

For Indra, his body may have resided in Europe, but his heart and soul never once departed Indonesian soil. There is a magical gravitational pull of the homeland—what we often call the call of the motherland—that ensures no matter how long someone lives overseas, their instincts will forever yearn to return home.

Indra’s life journey was marked by deep wounds from the past. He was separated from his birthplace without formal legal procedures due to illegal adoption. When the truth finally surfaced in his adulthood, his world briefly collapsed upon realizing his entire childhood rested upon a falsehood.

Instead of drowning in bitterness or blaming circumstances after confronting such harsh truths, he chose to make peace, embrace his true identity, and return to the home he had longed for all those years.

Joined by the Director of State Administration of the Ministry of Law, the discussion in the podcast also deeply analyzed the legal impacts of illegal adoption on citizenship status, alongside the government's commitment to safeguarding victims and restoring their constitutional rights.

Why Do Many Increasingly Choose Indonesia?

Indra’s story effectively flips the narrative that everyone is desperate to abandon this nation. Facts on the ground show the exact opposite: data from the Ministry of Law records a significant surge in foreign nationals (WNA) and children from mixed marriages enthusiastically choosing and undergoing naturalization to become Indonesian citizens.

Why does Indonesia remain the destination of choice for many foreign nationals and Indonesian diaspora members alike? Because material comfort and modern overseas facilities can never purchase inner peace. Social warmth, friendly neighborly smiles, a deep sense of familial kinship, and genuine acceptance are authentic luxuries found only in Indonesia. Ultimately, human beings need a place where they feel truly alive, rather than merely surviving.

Returning to Our Roots, Discovering Self-Sovereignty

What Indra voices aligns seamlessly with the spirit of the Independent Nation Movement (Gerakan Mandiri Bangsa): a collective realization that true self-reliance stems from how proudly we recognize our own identity.

Independence is not about how brilliantly we adapt to foreign cultures, but the courage to stand on our own two feet, respect our national history, and care for our own home. If we are not proud to be part of this great nation, who will be?

Indra’s message to anyone out there who might be blinded by foreign glamour or facing a similar fate is simple yet piercing:

Because ultimately, passports can be replaced, but blood, roots, and the hearth where the heart anchors can never lie.