11 Indonesian National Heroes Who Have Contributed to the Independence of Indonesia
Indonesia is a country that gained independence thanks to the struggle of its people. Experiencing difficult times for hundreds of years due to colonization by several countries, such as the Netherlands and Japan, has made Indonesia a nation that has a special day to be celebrated as National Heroes Day, which is November 10.
Speaking of heroes, of course, you must know the names of Indonesia's national heroes because they were often discussed in history lessons at school, right? Well, you can take a look again at 11 national heroes of Indonesia who have contributed to the independence of Indonesia.
1. Ir. Soekarno, The Father of Indonesia Respected by Many Countries
Ir. Soekarno, the first president of Indonesia, is known as a figure who was always passionate in expressing his ideas. He always had straightforward words when delivering speeches, often becoming the chairman for important congresses or organizations during the struggle.
Not only domestically, this Proclaimer of Independence is also well-known and highly respected by world figures. Ir. Soekarno even became a close figure to J.F. Kennedy, the former President of the United States.
2. Moh Hatta, Indonesia's National Hero of Diverse Ethnicities and Religions
Accompanying Ir. Soekarno, Moh Hatta became Indonesia's first vice president. He was also straightforward in his words and often became the most sought-after figure for discussions about the unity of Indonesia, which indeed has a variety of ethnicities, cultures, and religions.
One of the most memorable things about Moh Hatta is when he proposed to change the first principle in Pancasila, which initially favored Islam. Eventually, the eastern Indonesian people who practiced Christianity protested, leading Moh Hatta to decide to change the principle to "Belief in One God." Only one God, singular, and that applies to all believers.
3. Bung Tomo, The Forerunner of Heroes Day
Who doesn't know the most heroic incident of the people of Surabaya tearing down the Dutch flag above a hotel, leaving only the Indonesian flag, red and white? This later became the forerunner of the commemoration of Heroes Day in Indonesia.
Yes, November 10 is the date when Bung Tomo and the youth of Surabaya fought against the Dutch, who refused to acknowledge Indonesia's independence and attempted to regain control over Indonesia.
One slogan that Bung Tomo always shouted to ignite the spirit of the people of Surabaya was "Freedom or Death." For them, being under the rule of another country meant allowing themselves to die because they had no identity.
4. Sutan Syahrir, Refusing to Collaborate with Japan
According to stories in history books, it is told that the crimes committed by Japan were worse when Indonesia was under Dutch rule. This made Ir. Soekarno devise a strategy to still respect Japan while planning to liberate the nation.
However, this strategy did not apply to Sutan Syahrir. This former Prime Minister of Indonesia is known as a figure who always organized Indonesia's independence and did not want to be involved in collaborating with Japan at all.
5. General Soedirman, Continuing to Fight Despite Being Injured
This young general is a national hero of Indonesia who has an undeniable tenacity. His spirit always burned to fight against the colonizers. He became the commander of the army and the first general in Indonesia.
He was indeed at the forefront every time he fought and inevitably suffered severe injuries. However, those wounds did not dampen his spirit, and he continued to fight until his last breath in 1950.
6. Muhammad Natsir, An Activist and Islamic Thinker
The next national hero of Indonesia is an activist with high religious thoughts. He is Muhammad Natsir, a chairman of Masyumi.
His thoughts on Islam were used to rally strength from the community, making the struggle against the colonizers lighter as the entire population was eager for independence.
Muhammad Natsir received his education at a junior high school called MULO or Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs. Since he was in that junior high school, Muhammad Natsir was already active in organizations that initiated the struggle for Indonesia's independence.
7. Mohammad Yamin, The Figure Behind the Youth Pledge Formulation
The struggle against colonizers was not always dominated by the elders. Young figures also joined to commit to fighting the colonizers, one of whom is Mohammad Yamin.
This national hero of Indonesia is even known as the figure who formulated the text of the Youth Pledge in 1928. This moment is even commemorated specifically every October 28 as the point where Indonesian youth played a very important role in the history of Indonesia's independence.
In addition to the formulation of the Youth Pledge, Mohammad Yamin was also involved in formulating the principles of Pancasila. He was part of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI).
8. Ki Hadjar Dewantara, The Father of Education Remembered at Taman Siswa
Yogyakarta, Taman Siswa, and education seem to be three important points in Indonesia. This is not without reason because one of Indonesia's national heroes comes from that special city. He is Ki Hadjar Dewantara.
Receiving the title of The Father of Education is certainly not without reason. This is because Ki Hadjar Dewantara always fought for the independence of education in Indonesia. One of his legacies is the Taman Siswa school located in Yogyakarta.
9. Adam Malik, One of the Founding Figures of ASEAN
The next national hero of Indonesia is the first foreign minister of the archipelago. He is Adam Malik Batubara, a figure who was very active in criticizing the Dutch government because he once worked as a journalist.
Adam Malik was one of five representatives from Southeast Asian countries present at the formation of ASEAN. In addition to having been Minister of Foreign Affairs, he also served as Indonesia's 3rd Vice President. He was declared a national hero in 1998.
10. Prince Diponegoro, The Leader of the Largest War in Java
If you have ever been to the Tembalang area in Semarang, you will clearly see a statue of a national hero of Indonesia on horseback. The statue is located right at the entrance of Diponegoro University. And, in accordance with the name of that university, the hero figure is Prince Diponegoro.
Prince Diponegoro is very well-known as a hero who was very active in fighting the colonizers through warfare. One of the most famous wars he led was the Java War, which took place from 1825 to 1830. Lasting for 5 years, this war indeed became the largest war in Indonesia.
11. AH Nasution, The Proponent of Guerrilla Warfare in Indonesia
Abdul Harris Nasution, a national hero of Indonesia who was active as a soldier, always had brilliant ideas in fighting the colonizers. One of the most remembered ideas from him is advocating guerrilla warfare against the Dutch.
All the ideas and strategies proposed by AH Nasution are outlined in a book titled Strategy of Guerrilla Warfare and have been sold abroad. For his brilliant contributions, AH Nasution was designated as a national hero of Indonesia on October 5, 1975, precisely when ABRI celebrated its anniversary.
Those are the 11 national heroes of Indonesia that you can remember again. Their struggles, which have greatly contributed with a spirit that always burns, certainly deserve to be honored and praised.
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
