The Father
Soekarno
Soekarno (born June 6, 1901 -- died August 21, 1945) was a political theorist, architect and leader of the Indonesian independence movement. He was the first person, although controversially, to be awarded as a National Hero of Indonesia. His political thinking, post-humously named Soekarnoism[1], is a popular ideology in independent Indonesia.
Background
Soekarno was born in Soerabaja, to Raden Soekemi Sosrodihardjo, a Muslim Javanese aristocrat and Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai, a Hindu Balinese woman of Brahman lineage. He was born with the name Koesno Sosrodihardjo. As he was a frail child who often fell very sick, Javanese customs and traditional belief dictated that his name should be changed. At the age of five, his name was changed to Soekarno, from a character in the Hindu Bharatayuda epic, Karna.
After graduating from a native primary school in 1912, he attended junior secondary education in an
Europeesche Lagere School in Modjokerto, East Java. He became politically concious when he attended
Hogere Burger School in Soerabaja in 1916, where he lived in a boarding house owned by nationalist and
Sarekat Islam[2] founder, Tjokroaminoto. He pursued higher education in Engineering at the
Technische Hogeschool of Bandoeng where he graduated in 1926. After graduation, along with his friend Anwari he established an architectural firm, building a number of houses in Bandoeng and notably the Preanger Hotel as assistant to Dutch architect Wolff Schoemaker.
Throughout his studies, he showed himself as a bright individual. He had photographic memory and a child prodigy, a speaker of a staggering
ten languages[3]. Although he never attended education abroad, he was a modern thinker, critical to both local feudalistic traditions and Western imperialism.
A young Soekarno in 1916
Indonesian National Awakening
Soekarno's introduction to Indonesian Nationalism happened in the watchful guidance of the Islamist[4] Tjokroaminoto. His first taste of politics were in the
Jong Java, a Javanese youth organization, where he proved himself a rebel. He caused outrage when he delivered a fiery speech in informal Javanese[5], later he started a debate advocating that the Jong Java newspaper should be published in the lingua franca Malay, instead of Dutch or Javanese. Soekarno found the pre-Youth Pledge Jong Java too Javanese-centric, and helped steer the organization towards a more Indonesian course.
During his higher education in Bandoeng, he immersed himself in works of Western, Communist and Islamic authors, which helped him in discovering his one political view. Here he established a study club he named
Algemeene Studieclub, which in 1927 became the Indonesian National Party (Indonesian: Partij Nasional Indonesia | Dutch: Indonesische Nationale Partij). His earlier political activities sent him at odds with the colonial government, and he was captured in Djogdjakarta. In his trial, he delivered a speech criticizing the Colonial Government, titled
Indonesia Menggoegat (Dutch: Indonesië Beschuldigt | English: Indonesia Accuses), which after independence became a bestseller in Indonesia and The Netherlands. At the time it also received wide media coverage in the Netherlands, prompting the Liberals to pressure the Dutch government to release Soekarno. This turn of events made him a popular hero and the face of the Independence Movement.
When he returned however, the political scene of the East Indies has changed. The PNI had split into two, with the more moderate nationalists led by Dutch-educated politicans Mohammad Hatta and Soetan Sjahrir advocating education instead of separation. Soekarno went on to head the more militant
Partindo, and wrote against the Colonial Government in newspapers. This lead to his second arrest, this time without trial, and he was sent to exile first to Flores, and then to Bencoolen.
Japanese Occupation
Soekarno's exile was cut short in 1942, by courtesy of Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies. The three year occupation was a difficult time for Indonesians. The Japanese introduced themselves as liberators, although later proved themselves as oppressors. Rice and foodstuff were collected to provision the war effort, often leaving farmers starving. Javanese men were enslaved by the thousands as forced labor, being sent to places as far away as Burma to construct military buildings and roads.
They aim was total exploitation, and to pacify the people they needed a figurehead. While Soekarno believed that he could use the Japanese as a stepping stone towards independence of his people. Soekarno became involved in many projects, including the PETA militia army, POETERA organization, and even the
romusha forced labor. He gave speeches which were broadcasted around the Indies, and travelled to deliver orations in front of massive crowds. While he kept his masquerade at all times, personal memoirs and testimonials by people close to him described him falling to tears because of his people's suffering. He believed that these were necessary sacrifices for the sake of independence. However, his allegiance to the people was a well-known secret.
Soekarno, along with all the figurehead appointed by the Japanese, used the projects more for nationalistic agendas than to incite popular support of the Japanese war effort. This sent him at odds with the Japanese, which led to the POETERA organization being disbanded. Away from the eyes of the public he conspirated with Mohammad Hatta and Soetan Sjahrir to spread nationalism among the youth. At the same time he approached the Japanese, which led to independence being promised, and an organization being set up for its preparation, the BPUPKI. It was within this organization he put forth his political views, and where the
pancasila, or five points, of Soekarnoism, was formulated.
Archives photo of a BPUPKI meeting
Later Life and Death
The promise of independence was one that the Japanese could not keep, as they already lost the war. Knews of the Japanese surrender was kept secret by the Japanese, but many underground movements found out soon enough. Among them were the Menteng 31 and the PETA, which lead the ill-fated Djakarta Uprising. Through interrogation of PETA commander Singgih, the Japanese became aware of Soekarno's links with the Menteng 31. In turn, the Japanese brought Soekarno and Hatta for questioning. Prior to said turn of events, Soekarno had caught Malaria and his condition was deteriorating. The questioning in 17 August was the last time he left his house, and he spent his last days in his room, writing the famous
Kepada Hatta letters, as a reminder for Hatta to continue the struggle after his death. Four days later, at the age of 44, the father of Indonesia died, leaving behind his third wife, his two year old son, and his people.
Soekarno was forever remembered in Indonesia as the last martyr. His legacy lasted in the minds of the Indonesian people, and his political philosophy helped shaped the Indonesian nation. His former adversary, Mohammad Hatta became the foremost supporter of Soekarnoism, and in 1951[6] proclaimed the late Soekarno the first national hero as one of his first acts as Prime Minister. One of his first acts after Soekarno's death however was in accordance to Soekarno's letters. Hatta contacted the NICA, beginning the next phase of the independence movement.
[1] The idea here is that in order to salvage the Pancasila and the results of the BPUPKI meeting, nationalists attributed it to Soekarno, whom they made a martyr. More on this later.
[2] Islamic Trade Union, an Islamist and Nationalist organization among merchants.
[3] Javanese as a mother tongue, fluent Indonesian, Dutch, Balinese and Sundanese, excellent English, French, German, Arabic and Japanese
[4] The Indonesian version of Islamism in this era was very moderate. This topic deserves a chapter for its own.
[5] The Javanese language comes in two forms,
Kromo, the polite version used to talk with people who are older or with higher status, and
Ngoko, the rough version used to talk with friends and younger people. According to Javanese norm at the time, this is like swearing while giving a toast at someone's wedding.
[6] Retcon-prone
So basically I'm trying to write Soekarno's ITTL life and legacy using ITTL Indonesia's historiography.
"En wat doen we met Soekarno als die komt? En wat doen we met Soekarno als die komt? En wat doen we met Soekarno, wat doen we met Soekarno, wat doen we met Soekarno als die komt? Ja, we hakken hem in mootjes als die komt! Ja we hakken hem in mootjes als die komt! Ja, we hakken hem in mootjes, we hakken hem in mootjes, we hakken hem in mootjes ald die komt!"
