Seeing Sutan Syahrir's Underground Struggle

Sutan Syahrir (Photo: commons wikimedia)

JAKARTA - Sutan Syahrir is one of the founders of the Republic of Indonesia and is Indonesia's first prime minister. He was born in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra today more than a century ago on March 5, 1909. Syahrir was a national hero known in his underground struggles.

Quoting the kemdikbud.go.id page, his father is named Mohammad Rasad, the title of Maharaja Soetan bin Soetan Leman, the title of Soetan Palindih and his mother, Puti Siti Rabiah, who comes from Koto Gadang, Agam, West Sumatra. He has a sister named Rohana Kudus.

Syahrir did come from a wealthy family. His father served as an advisor to the Sultan of Deli and also the chief prosecutor or landraad during the Dutch colonial government, ELS (Europeesche Lagere School) or at the elementary school level.

After completing his education at ELS, he then entered MULO (Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs) which is equivalent to junior high school or junior high school. Here he read a lot of foreign books published by Europe and also literary works from outside.

Graduated from MULO in 1926, he then moved to Bandung and attended AMS (Algemeene Middelbare School) which is the most expensive and best school in Bandung.

According to historian Des Alwi, Sutan Syahrir's nationalism first grew when he heard Dr. Tjipto Mangunkusumo. At that time Tjipto was giving a speech at the Bandung square.

Initially, Syahrir, disliked associating with "rebels". However, because of his classmate, Boediono persuaded him and invited him for a walk, from there he became interested in the spirit of nationality. He began to be active in the national youth association. His experience in organizing at school led him to enter the world of politics.

He is known as the initiator of the founding of Jong Indonesia (Nationalist Youth Association) on February 20, 1927 which later changed his name to Pemuda Indonesia. The organization then became the driving force for the start of the Indonesian Youth Congress which gave birth to the Youth Pledge on October 28, 1928.

Breathe underground

Unlike Soekarno and Hatta who fought openly, Syahrir was more underground. Rosihan Anwar in his book Sutan Sjahrir: a humanist statesman, a true democrat who preceded his time (2011), to the point that Syahrir was breathing "underground."

When Japan first occupied the archipelago, for example. Japan's first fascist act at the time was to seal off the radio. Information from abroad is cut off so that Indonesians are in the dark of information.

However, Syahrir, who at that time had a dark radio set that was not sealed by Japan, was secretly listening to Allied radio broadcasts. He dared to risk his life to listen to the radio in order to find the latest information about Japan and the international world.

Then Syahrir's other underground movement was to lead an underground movement. He held political discussions with the younger generation.

Syahrir realized that his movements were often being watched. This is because he traveled a lot to the regions. He also received many guests from various circles.

For example, from Maluku, East Java, and other regions. Those who came started from couriers, oil workers, to leaders of the movement.

In addition, Sutan Syahrir is involved in the action of free literacy education for children from underprivileged families in Tjahja Volksuniversiteit (Cahaya University of the People).

Twilight when Syahrir

On the eve of independence, Syahrir was one of those who had the attitude of the youth group: to press for independence as soon as possible. Even members of the underground movement led by Syahrir in the regions were alerted to self-proclaiming independence if this failed to be carried out in Jakarta.

After Indonesia's independence, Syahrir became the first Prime Minister. After leading the cabinet, Sutan Syahrir was then appointed as President Soekarno's adviser as well as the itinerant Ambassador.

In 1948 Syahrir founded the Indonesian Socialist Party (PSI) as an alternative party to other parties that grew out of the international communist movement. However, in 1951 the PSI failed to collect votes in Indonesia's first general elections.

After the PRRI case in 1958, the relationship between Syahrir and President Soekarno deteriorated until finally PSI was dissolved in 1960. From 1962 to 1965, Syahrir was arrested and imprisoned without trial until he suffered a stroke.

Then Syahrir was allowed to seek treatment in Switzerland. Syahrir finally died in Switzerland on April 9, 1966.