Jakarta. Coordinating Minister for Legal Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra on Saturday launched eight books chronicling his 70-year life journey as an academic, constitutional law thinker, statesman, and politician.

Held at Balai Kartini, the launch coincided with Yusril’s 70th birthday and served not only as a personal milestone but also as a moment to reflect on more than five decades of contributions to Indonesia’s legal and political landscape.

“These books contain the record of my 70 years of life, beginning roughly from the age of 20 when I became active as a student and started engaging in socio-political activities, through the following 50 years,” Yusril told reporters.

Publishing coordinator Hafid Abbas said the eight volumes go beyond celebration, offering historical documentation of Yusril’s intellectual and political struggles from Indonesia’s authoritarian era through the Reformasi period and into today’s democratic consolidation.

“These works are archives of thought and historical testimony, showing how legal reasoning, the ethics of power, and commitment to the constitution are tested in real situations,” Hafid said.

The book launch also formed part of the broader inauguration of “Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra’s Collections,” a three-story intellectual archive unveiled on Aug. 25, 2025, at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia. The collection is expected to serve as an academic reference center for students, researchers, and young Indonesians exploring Yusril’s views on law, constitutionalism, democracy, and human rights.

The eight titles include:

• The Untold Stories of Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra — behind-the-scenes accounts of major decisions and historical moments, told through colleagues’ testimonies.
• The Autobiography of Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra — personal reflections on moral responsibility, difficult choices, and public service.
• Islam, Democracy, and Human Rights in Contemporary Indonesia — examining the dialogue between Islamic values, democracy, and constitutionalism.
• Pemikiran Politik Yusril Ihza Mahendra: Islam, Negara, dan Demokrasi (Yusril Ihza Mahendra's Thoughts on Islam, State, and Democracy) — tracing Yusril’s consistent political thought in advancing Islamic aspirations through legal and democratic channels.
• Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra: Keadilan yang Memulihkan (Restorative Justice) — highlighting his ethical approach to law as a means of restoring social relations and human dignity.
• The Landmark Cases of Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra — documenting key constitutional cases and their impact on Indonesia’s legal development.
• Lebih Dekat dengan Prof. Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra (A Closer Look at Yusril Ihza Mahendra) — portraits of his integrity and courage through the perspectives of friends and public figures.
• Di Mana Bumi Dipijak (Stay True to Your Roots) — a biographical novel tracing his journey from coastal Belitung to the center of power, underscoring the importance of staying rooted in one’s origins.

More than 1,000 copies have been printed, with digital editions also available to broaden national and international access. Collectively, the books are intended to stand as an intangible intellectual legacy for Indonesia.

Symbolic copies will be presented to Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka and Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, underscoring that Yusril’s ideas resonate beyond Indonesia, particularly in Southeast Asia’s legal and democratic discourse.

Organizers said the launch serves as a reminder that a statesman’s most enduring legacy lies not in office held, but in ideas, example, and the courage to uphold principles amid changing times.