Not everyone gets invited by the British Royal Family to meet King Charles III. However, Gatot Subroto was among those who had the opportunity to be hosted by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London on Thursday, February 2, 2023. Alongside 300 other young Asian figures, Gatot was one of the three inspirational individuals representing Indonesia at the commemoration event of the British East and South-East Asian cooperation in the United Kingdom.
"It feels joyful to be invited to such a special event attended by King Charles III. We had a brief chat where I was asked about my activities in England and how long I've been here. When I mentioned studying at University College London, His Majesty responded greatly. It's gratifying to receive appreciation through this event," said Gatot, who is a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance, quoted from Kompas.id.
Gatot's invitation to Buckingham Palace as Indonesia's representative wasn't without reason. An LPDP awardee pursuing a PhD in Organization and Management at University College London, Gatot is adorned with achievements.
Two years ago, Gatot initiated the first Tax Centre Indonesia abroad, named Tax Centre in the United Kingdom (Intack-UK). This organization serves as a platform for discussions on Indonesian taxation and accommodates non-taxation issues. Gatot once served as the Chairman of the Indonesian Student Association in the United Kingdom (PPIUK) in 2020-2021 and contributed to PPIUK winning The Best of PPI Year 2021 among 60 PPIs worldwide.
The considerable number of Indonesian PhD students studying in the UK led to the establishment of an intellectual platform. Alongside hundreds of Indonesian doctoral students in the UK, Gatot helped found the Doctoral Epistemic of Indonesian in the United Kingdom (Doctrine-UK).
Not limited to career and academia, during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK, while serving as the Chairman of PPI, Gatot and his colleagues assisted those affected by the pandemic. Furthermore, Gatot actively participated in the management and committee for the construction of the Indonesian Islamic Centre (IIC) mosque in London. Once completed, the IIC will be the first Indonesian mosque in the UK.
Given his contributions and involvements in various activities during his time in the UK, it's no surprise that an invitation from the British Royal Family came his way. This gathering with King Charles III is a recognition bestowed upon the youth who have contributed to the development of the community in the UK.
"In a simple yet meaningful message, His Majesty King Charles III said, as leaders, we should: 'Continuously serve and bring benefits to the masses,'" wrote Gatot on his personal Instagram account.
Gatot hopes that Indonesian PhD students in the UK will continue to contribute to community development through their respective expertise. He also urges scholarship recipients from the Indonesian government not to forget to return to the homeland after completing their studies to contribute to the nation's development.