I Gusti Ketut Pudja


I Gusti Ketut Pudja was an Indonesian Politician, and also first governor of Lesser Sunda. He was recognized by the government of the Republic of Indonesia as a National Hero of Indonesia on 7 November 2011.

Early life

Pudja was born on 19 May 1908 in Singaraja, Bali. In 1934, he graduated from Rechtshoogeschool in Batavia. In 1935, he started working in Bali and Lombok Residency Office in Singaraja. A year later, he was placed in the Raad van Kerta, a court in Bali at that time.

Independence struggle

Pudja was a member of the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence, formed on 7 August 1945, to continue the work begun by the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence. This body was chaired by Sukarno. Independence was declared on August 17, 1945, two days after Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces at the end of the Pacific War.

Post-independence

Pudja was appointed by the newly created Republic of Indonesia as the first Governor of Lesser Sunda on 22 August 1945. He was also chairman of the Supreme Audit Agency from 1960 to 1968.

Honour