UNAIR NEWS – The community sometimes thinks that the construction of a monument is not very useful. Some feel that the funds for the construction of the monument should be better allocated to other more important urban issues.

Professor of Urban History Prof. Dr. Purnawan Basundoro SS, M.Hum said that the construction of a monument in a city is quite important because it is used as a marker of certain events. With the monument, the public will be reminded of past events that occurred in the city.

He further explained that the construction of a monument cannot be built just like that. The rules for building the monument refer to the regulation made by the city government. These regulations can relate to other existing regulations, such as the environment, traffic, road network, and other regulations.

Apart from being a reminder of a historical event, the monument is also an icon or landmark of an area. Monas is one of the famous landmarks that has become a marker of the city of Jakarta. But of course not all monuments can mark a place.

“A monument as a landmark should contain special elements referring to an important history or events in the past, important symbols related to culture, politics, social, and so on, which have become the common belief of the local community. The monument should also be large enough so that it is easy for the public to see,” said Prof. Dr. Purnawan Basundoro.

The construction of the monument is not always based on important events that occurred in the area. However, it should be related to the things that refer to the city.

“If it is not related to history, it could also be related to community activities, community culture, community habits, community professions, and other things. A good monument represents a certain aspect of the local area,” said Prof. Dr. Purnawan Basundoro.

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Author: Rayya Afifah Ikhsani

Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia