Jokowi Born with Name Mulyono

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi stated that he was born with the name Mulyono. Jokowi was born in June 1961 at Brayat Minulyo Hospital, Surakarta City, Central Java.

“But, I did not use the name for too long because my parents immediately found a new name when I was sick over and over again,” said Jokowi in Alberthiene Endah’s book titled ‘Jokowi Menuju Cahaya’, which was launched on Thursday, December 13.

Jokowi said there is a belief in Javanese society that the children who continue to get sick need to change their name.

“You may not believe it but I grow up healthy after. It’s a mystery,” he said.

In the book, Jokowi claimed to spend his childhood in a house by the river, precisely in the Srambat area, on the outskirts of Solo. Jokowi’s mother is Sujiatmi. His father is Wijiatno Notomiarjo, a trader of bamboo and wood.

Jokowi and his family moved their house several times, but always by the river. Later, he learned that the fate of the families who rented the house on the riverbank was indeed like that.

“The landlord will tell the family who rent the house to move if there is another family who is willing to pay higher,” he said.

After moving to rented houses several times, Jokowi and his parents moved to the bank of Pepe River, Cinderejo village, Solo. They live longer there. In fact, three of Jokowi’s younger sisters were born there. The slum houses on the bank of Pepe River, said Jokowi, have taught him many things as well as the strength of the marginal people.