The construction of the National Awakening Monument (Tugu Lilin) is a monument marking the 25th anniversary of the Boedi Oetomo (BO) organization. The idea to establish this monument was proposed by representatives of the Surakarta (Solo) community during the First Greater Indonesia Congress in 1931 in Surabaya. The construction was entrusted to KRT Woerjaningrat, the son-in-law of Paku Buwono (PB) X. Besides being a native nobleman from Solo, KRT Woerjaningrat also served as the Vice Chairman of Boedi Oetomo. Boedi Oetomo was a movement aimed at providing education to the people so that their spirits would be enlightened, and they would understand and possess a spirit of nationalism and unity.

According to KRMT Drs. Suwitadi Kusumadilaga, SH, MM, MSi, one of the founders of the Murni Foundation, those who were actively involved in the monument’s construction committee included R. Singgih, KRMH Wuryaningrat, Dr. Radjiman, and Dr. Wahidin. Furthermore, it was said that the Candle Monument was built to mark the beginning of the national movement. The monument symbolizes the unity of the Boedi Oetomo leaders and the Federation of Indonesian National Political Associations (PPPKI), represented in a sacred manner by planting clumps of soil from various parts of the archipelago. Members of PPPKI from all across the archipelago came to Solo carrying clumps of soil from their respective regions. These clumps were then planted and united with stones and cement to mark the laying of the first stone, which was carried out secretly (Ramelan, 2004: 24).