Figures of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence – Friends of Gramed, it is necessary to know that Indonesia’s independence was motivated by the events of the proclamation read by Ir. Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta. However, other proclamation figures were also involved in the success of the nation’s struggle for independence.
The proclamation became the spearhead of all the struggles and sacrifices that had been poured out by Indonesian fighters. The proclamation figures played a role in formulating, compiling, and carrying out Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945.
Friends of Sinaumed’s are certainly curious about the proclamation figure and his role in the proclamation of Indonesian independence. So, to find out, let’s look at the following explanation together.
1. Ir. Sukarno
The first proclamation figure, Soekarno was born in Blitar on June 6 1901, the son of a People’s School teacher named Raden Soekami and a Balinese woman of royal blood, Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai. He was born with the name Koesno Sosrodihardjo which was given by his parents.
As a noble child, he was able to receive higher education and graduated from the Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng (now the Bandung Institute of Technology) in 1925 majoring in civil engineering. Soekarno was declared to have passed the engineer exam on May 25, 1926.
After graduating from college, he published his political ideas in the mass media with an article entitled “Nationalism, Islam and Marxism”. This paper emphasizes the importance of the ideas of inter-group unity, which later marked political thought throughout his career.
His political struggle continued by forming the Algemeene Studie Club (ASC) in Bandung in 1926, which was the result of inspiration from the Indonesische Studie Club by Dr. Soetomo. This organization later became the forerunner to the founding of the Indonesian National Party (PNI) in 1927.
He adopted a non-cooperative attitude with the Dutch which landed him in detention several times. His activities in the PNI caused him to be arrested by the Dutch on December 29, 1929 in Yogyakarta, and the next day he was transferred to Bandung to be thrown into Banceuy Prison.
In 1930, he was transferred to Sukamiskin and read out his phenomenal plea for Indonesia suing at the Bandung Landraad court on December 18, 1930, until he was released again on December 31, 1931.
On August 17, 1945, shortly after Japan surrendered to the Allies, at the urging of the youth activists who had kidnapped him at Rengasdengklok, Soekarno and Hatta were appointed as Indonesia’s first vice-presidents.
2. Drs. H. Mohammad Hatta
The second Proclamation figure, namely Mohammad Hatta, was Indonesia’s first vice president, as well as a proclamation figure in charge of compiling the text of the proclamation, proclaiming Indonesian independence, and signing the text of the proclamation on behalf of the Indonesian people with Ir. Sukarno.
Apart from that, he was also the originator of the idea for the text of the proclamation “matters regarding the transfer of power and other things to be carried out in a careful manner and in the shortest possible time”. Hatta became a companion to Ir. Soekarno in the proclamation ceremony wearing all white.
Hatta was born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra on August 12, 1902 with the name Muhammad Athar. He was born to the couple Muhammad Djamil and Siti Saleha who came from Minangkabau.
His father is a descendant of a tarekat cleric in Batuhampar, near Payakumbuh, West Sumatra and his mother comes from a family of traders in Bukittinggi.
He first received formal education in private schools. After six months, he moved to a public school and was in the same class as his older brother. He then moved to Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) in Padang (now Padang 1 Public High School) until 1913, and continued to Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO) until 1917.
His non-formal education was obtained from Muhammad Jamil Jambek, Abdullah Ahmad, and several other scholars. On November 18, 1945, Hatta married Rahmi Hatta and three days later they lived in Yogyakarta. The couple then had three daughters named Meutia Farida Hatta, Gemala Rabi’ah Hatta, and Halida Nuriah Hatta.
Hatta had served as Prime Minister in the Hatta I Cabinet, Hatta II Cabinet, and the United Republic of Indonesia (RIS) Cabinet. In 1956, he stepped down from the post of vice president.
On March 14, 1980, Hatta died at dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo and buried in the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery (TPU), South Jakarta.
Because his struggle for the Republic of Indonesia was very great, Hatta was awarded the highest honor “Star of the Republic of Indonesia Class I” given by President Soeharto. Apart from that, the Government of Indonesia also designated him as one of Indonesia’s National Heroes on October 23, 1986 through Presidential Decree number 081/TK/1986.
3. Fatmawati
The figure of the third proclamation, namely Fatmawati, was the third wife of the first Indonesian president, Ir. Sukarno. She was the first first lady from 1945–1967. He contributed to Indonesia’s independence as a tailor for the Sang Saka Red and White Heritage Flag which was hoisted during the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence ceremony on August 17, 1945.
Fatmawati spent her time sewing the flag in her physical condition which was quite vulnerable because she was in her late pregnancy and it was time to give birth to her first child. The flag was stitched in stages using a hand-operated Singer sewing machine.
Fatmawati was born to Hasan Din and Siti Chadijah, with the name Fatimah. His parents are descendants of Princess Indrapura, a member of the royal family from the Indrapura Sultanate, Pesisir Selatan, West Sumatra. His father was a businessman and Muhammadiyah figure in Bengkulu.
Fatmawati married Soekarno on 1 June 1943 and was blessed with five sons and daughters, including Guntur Soekarnoputra, Megawati Soekarnoputri, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, Sukmawati Soekarnoputri and Guruh Soekarnoputra.
On May 14, 1980, he died of a heart attack while on his way home from Mecca. His body was then buried at the Karet Bivouac Public Cemetery (TPU), Central Jakarta.
4. Mohamad Ibn Sayuti
Mohamad Ibnu Sayuti or better known as Sayuti Melik is recorded in Indonesian history as a proclamation figure who typed the text of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence. In addition, he is also known as the figure who changed the phrase “representatives of the Indonesian nation” to “on behalf of the Indonesian nation” in the concept of the proclamation text.
Sayuti was born on November 22, 1908 in Sleman, Yogyakarta. The child of the couple Abdul Mu’in alias Partoprawito, a bekel jajar or village head in Sleman, Yogyakarta with Sumilah. He received his first education at the Ongko Loro School (elementary level) in Srowolan Village, only up to grade IV, and continued in Yogyakarta until he received a diploma.
Since childhood, he was instilled with nationalism by his father when he opposed the Dutch who used his rice fields to grow tobacco. While studying at a teacher’s school in Solo in 1920, he learned nationalism from his Dutch history teacher, HA Zurink.
Sayuti is part of the Menteng 31 group, which played a role in the kidnapping of Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta on August 16, 1945. He and other youths brought Ir. Soekarno (along with Fatmawati and Guntur who were only nine months old) and Moh. Hatta to Rengasdengklok. The goal is that they are not influenced by the Japanese.
After Indonesia’s independence, he became a member of the Central Indonesian National Committee (KNIP) and was known as a supporter of Ir. Sukarno, but also as a person who dared to oppose the ideas of Nasakom (nationalism, religion, communism).
He proposed that Nasakom be changed to Nasasos (nationalism, religion, socialism). Not only that, he also opposed the appointment of Ir. Soekarno as president for life by the Provisional People’s Consultative Assembly (MPRS).
Sayuti died on February 27, 1989 after a year of illness, at the age of 80 in Jakarta and was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery (TMP). He received Mahaputra Star Level V (1961) from Ir. Soekarno and Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana (II) from President Soeharto (1973).
5. Sutan Syahrir
Sutan Syahrir is known as an intellectual, pioneer and revolutionary for Indonesian independence. He was born on March 5, 1909 in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra. His father’s name was Mohammad Rasad, the title of Maharaja Soetan bin Leman, the title of Soetan Palindih Koto Gadang, Agam, West Sumatra, and his mother was named Puti Siti Rabiah, who came from Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra.
Sjahrir received his basic education at Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) and secondary school at Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO) in Medan. In 1926, he finished school from MULO and entered the high school Algemeene Middelbare School (AMS) in Bandung. He joined the Indonesian Student Theater Association (Batovis) at the school as a director, screenwriter, and actor.
On February 20, 1927, Syahrir was one of the ten people who initiated the establishment of a nationalist youth association, namely Jong Indonesië. The association then changed its name to the Indonesian Youth which became the driving force for the Indonesian Youth Congress, a monumental congress that sparked the Youth Pledge in 1928.
Syahrir returned to continue his education in the Netherlands at the Faculty of Law, University of Amsterdam to study socialism. Apart from studying socialism, he was also active in the Indonesian Association (PI) when Moh. Hatta.
At the end of 1931, Syahrir left his campus to return to his homeland and join the national movement. He immediately joined the New Indonesian National Party (PNI) organization, which in June 1932 was chaired by himself.
After Indonesia’s independence, he became Indonesia’s first politician and prime minister. He served as the first Prime Minister of Indonesia with terms of office from 14 November 1945 to 3 July 1947, as chairman of the Indonesian Socialist Party (PSI), Head of the Delegation of the Republic of Indonesia in the Linggajati Negotiations, and as the Roving Ambassador (Ambassador-at-Large) of the Republic of Indonesia .
Syahrir founded PSI in 1948 as another alternative party that grew out of the international communist movement. Although the PSI was left-leaning and based its guidelines on the teachings of Marx-Engels, it opposed the Soviet Union’s state system.
He died in exile as a political prisoner on April 9, 1966, aged 57 in Zürich, Switzerland. His body was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery (TMP), Jakarta. Sutan Sjahrir was designated as one of Indonesia’s National Heroes on April 9, 1966 through Presidential Decree number 76 of 1966.
6. Sukarno
Soekarni’s full name was Soekarni Kartodiwirjo. He was born on July 14, 1916 in Sumberdiran Village, Garum District, Blitar Regency, East Java. His father’s name was Dimoen Kartodiwirjo, a descendant of Eyang Onggo, Prince Diponegoro’s cook. His mother was named Pidjah, a woman from Kediri.
Soekarni is the fourth child of nine siblings, namely Hono Karto Dihardjo, Soekarmilah (Mrs. H. Sopran), Soekardi, Soekarlim, Soekarni, Soekarti (Mrs. Sastro Roesdi), Karmijem (Mrs. Parto Widjono), Endang Sartini (Mrs. Muslimin ), Soekarpo (Endi Soekarto), and Soekarjo.
He received his education at the Mardisiswo School in Blitar (a kind of Student Park made by Ki Hajar Dewantara). At school, Sukarni learned about nationalism through Moh. Anwar, who comes from Banyumas, is the founder of Mardidiswo as well as a figure in the Indonesian movement.
In 1934, he succeeded in becoming Chairman of the Young Indonesian Executive Board. Meanwhile, the Dutch began to suspect him of being a young militant. In 1936, the Dutch carried out a raid on young Indonesian officers, but he managed to escape and lived on the run for several years.
Soekarni was included in the group of young people who were involved in the attempt to kidnap Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta to Rengasdengklok. While in Rengasdengklok, the two of them were continuously urged to immediately declare independence, no later than August 17, 1945.
In the end, Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta agreed to this and was brought back to Jakarta by Achmad Soebardjo to immediately prepare for independence by compiling the text of the proclamation.
As soon as the manuscript was finished, Ir. Soekarno who was supported by Moh. Hatta suggested that all participants present at the meeting sign the text. However, Soekarni suggested that only the two of them sign the text of the proclamation as representatives of the Indonesian nation.
In 1961, Soekarni was appointed Indonesian Ambassador to Peking, PRC (People’s Republic of China) and returned to his homeland in March 1964. That said, during a meeting at the Bogor Palace in December 1964, he warned Ir. Soekarno for the actions of the PKI.
However, contrary to his expectations, the Many People’s Consultative Party (Murba) was frozen in 1965. He and other Murba leaders were imprisoned. During the New Order era, he was released and the Murba ban was lifted (rehabilitated 17 October 1966).
Soekarni was then appointed as a member of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) in 1967, which was his last official position. The figure who received the Second and Fourth Grade Mahaputra Stars died on May 7, 1971. His body was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery (TMP) with a state ceremony.
7. Achmad Subardjo
Raden Achmad Soebardjo Djojoadisoerjo was born on March 23, 1896 in Teluk Jambe, Karawang, West Java. Teluk Jambe Village is a small village on the banks of the Citarum River and is a rice-producing area in West Java Province.
Achmad Soebardjo is the youngest of four children, namely the result of the marriage of Teuku Muhammad Yusuf with Wardinah. His father came from Acehnese noble descent from Pidie, while his mother was a daughter of a sub-district head in Telukagung, Cirebon, of Javanese–Bugis descent from Central Java.
He also contributed to the success of the proclamation proclaimed by Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta. His role was to bring them back to Jakarta after being forcibly taken by youths to Rengasdengklok.
His journey to Rengasdengklok is full of obstacles and dangers. However, this did not dampen his steps to save the two leaders of the Indonesian nation.
Arriving at the location, he succeeded in persuading the youths who had hidden Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta to take him back to Jakarta. Apart from that, he also assured the youths that the two of them would soon proclaim Indonesian independence.
Achmad Soebardjo became one of the important figures directly involved in the preparation of the proclamation text. Soekarno wrote down the concept of the text of the proclamation on a piece of paper, while Mohammad Hatta and Ahmad Soebardjo contributed their thoughts orally.
So, that’s a brief explanation of the struggles and services of the 7 Figures of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence . Appreciating the services of the heroes is not only by remembering and thanking them in their hearts, but also by imitating their attitudes and actions.
sinaumedia can visit sinaumedia’s book collection at www.sinaumedia.com to obtain references about these heroes, starting from their life background, education, and struggle history.
The following is a recommendation for sinaumedia books that Sinaumed’s can read to learn about Indonesian history so they can fully interpret it. Happy reading.
Author: Fandy Aprianto Rohman