Indonesia has a long history full of exciting, inspiring, and head-scratching stories. And besides the more mainstream national heroes like Bung Karno and Bung Hatta, there is a whole host of ‘alternative’ heroes we can be proud of too.
The founding figures we chose are prominent thinkers who deserve more attention in Indonesian history and are worth emulating today. Especially considering that many of our current leaders have narrow imaginations, are busy hanging out with discriminatory movements, or are busy venting on social media.
So, who did the Pamflet team choose?
1. S.K Trimurti
Chosen by Maulida Raviola, Pamflet’s general coordinator
“One of my favorite heroes is Surastri Karma Trimurti. Before independence, she often spread pamphlets containing anti-colonial ideas, which got her imprisoned by the Dutch. Even though she was arrested and tortured, she never stopped writing in many media outlets.
After independence, she became Indonesia’s first Minister of Labor, but she also stayed active in the labor party and even founded Gerwis (forerunner of Gerwani). Because of New Order propaganda, this organization was labeled a subversive women’s organization. Yet the organization was very active at the grassroots level and fought for the interests of the people.
2. Tan Malaka
Chosen by Afra, Pamflet’s general coordinator for the 2013–2015 period.
“Tan didn’t appear much. But his concept was the closest to the idea of social justice and equality.”
3. General Sudirman
Chosen by Amrie, Youth Movement coordinator
“His guerrilla struggle was truly admirable! The 100 km guerrilla route, traveled over a period of 7 months, is a struggle worth remembering forever.
I once traveled part of that guerrilla route in the Gunung Kidul area of Yogyakarta, and the route is truly challenging: hilly, winding, and sometimes with rocky roads. Many sections have since been paved, but when I imagined General Sudirman and his small group of soldiers crossing that route during the independence era, I was truly awestruck.”
4. A. A. Maramis
Chosen by Justian, Pamflet alumnus
“Maramis was an actor who played many roles along the timeline of the struggle, from the Jakarta Charter to Pancasila. My favorite part is when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of the PDRI in India.”
5. R.A Kartini
Chosen by Fia, Pamflet alumna
“Kartini was a fighter for women’s liberation from ignorance.”
6. Sutan Syahrir
Chosen by Fahmi, Pamflet alumnus
“For Syahrir, independence was merely a gateway to achieving the freedom of the Indonesian people. He went beyond the boundaries of the nationalism that was raging so fiercely at the time.”
7. Dr. Soegiri
Chosen by Raka, Youth Studies
“Dr. Soegiri is my great-grandfather. During the war of independence at the end of the 1940s, he became a doctor for the guerrillas and Indonesian fighting soldiers in East Java, after previously also treating soldiers and war victims alongside his colleague, Dr. Paeis, at RSU Lamongan.
In the lead-up to the 10 November events in Surabaya, he was part of the Indonesian delegation that negotiated a ceasefire with Brigadier General Mallaby, and he was the one who identified and evacuated Mallaby’s body after he was killed.”
8. Rohana Kudus
Chosen by Fanny, Pamflet Association member
“At a time when access to education for women was difficult, she founded the newspaper Sunting Melayu (and became Indonesia’s first female journalist). Living in the same era as Kartini, she also dedicated herself to education.”
What about you? Who is your ‘alternative’ hero?
