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ktoberfest is a funfair that occurs in Munich, Germany where Germans celebrate with unlimited beer.

On Monday, it was a different Oktoberfest, where Indonesian people celebrated the swearing-in of their seventh president, Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo. Nationwide celebrations marked the historic event and the euphoria was totally unprecedented in the country so far. I watched the event on television and felt the spirit of independence among the citizens.

People from every walk of life got down onto the streets to greet their new leader, who is popularly known as the people'€™s leader. People walked and greeted their new President while he made his way to the Presidential Palace; it was a true festival of democracy.

And the momentum the country has gained in the last few months peaked on Monday when Jokowi was sworn in as the new president. The momentum truly overcame all the setbacks that have clouded the Indonesian political climate in the last few months. This was the momentum that the President mentioned in his maiden speech. Following his speech, the rupiah strengthened against the US dollar and also the Indonesia Stock Exchange saw foreign investors pumping in millions of dollars and an upward movement of the index at the end of trading on Monday. This is momentum that needs to be kept up and taken forward.

This is the first time since the post-reform era that a true democratic leader emerged from a normal walk of life. He is a dynamic leader who relishes in his opportunity to serve people more than the position or power itself, and a humble person who commands respect from his fellow citizens and also from other nations.

He is a political figure, who set himself apart from the league of elite leaders in this nation by walking the talk. A common man who is willing to sweat for his own people and the nation that he loves, he is a person who inspires others by working hard. He is surely history in the making: We will find more biographies written about him, case studies made about his success and more. He may not be a great orator now, but I regard his speeches as genuine.

Considering his love for jamu (herbal remedies), this day must be declared as National Jamu Day, which can be categorized as the Oktoberfest of Indonesia '€” a celebration of democracy with jamu and tempeh. For now, I want to relish in my part of tempeh and jamu: Long live Indonesia, long live democracy and long live President Jokowi.

Suresh Muthusamy
Jakarta