Soebandrio's Special Task To Assist Ratna Sari Dewi On Hajj On Today's History, April 8, 1965

President Soekarno and his fifth wife, Ratna Sari Dewi. They met in Tokyo on June 15, 1959 and married in Jakarta on March 3, 1962. (National Library)

JAKARTA – Today's history, 57 years ago, April 8, 1965, Deputy Prime Minister who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Soebandrio received a 'special' assignment from President Soekarno. He was asked to accompany his fifth wife, Ratna Sari Dewi, to go on a pilgrimage.

All of that as a form of Bung Karno's love for his lover. He doesn't want his idol to be sad or angry. Even if Dewi gets angry and returns to Japan, Bung Besar will send ministers and even the prime minister to persuade her to go home.

It may be said that Soekarno and Naoko Nemoto's meeting at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo was love at first sight. The meeting took place on June 16 1959. Bung Karno was very happy. She had the same interest as him: art. Naoko who is only 19 years old loves literature, dancing, singing and painting.

Therefore, Bung Karno's desire arose to marry her. Naoko is the opposite. He felt the same way. He was so amazed by the figure of Bung Karno. The two then agreed to marry on March 3, 1962. The marriage made Naoko embrace Islam completely. Bung Karno did not forget to give him a new name: Ratna Sari Dewi.

Bung Karno's presence made Dewi's life colorful. It's like being reborn. Moreover, Dewi recently lost her mother and sister, Yasso, who died. Dewi also felt that she had no one, apart from Bung Karno.

Ratna Sari Dewi still looks charming at the age of 82 years. (Instagram@dewisukarnoofficial)

Bung Karno's sincere love for Dewi was warmly welcomed. As a form of his love, Bung Karno designed the house that would later be occupied by Ratna Sari Dewi on Jalan Gatot Soebroto: Wisma Yasso (now: Museum Satriamandala).

"Here we see, Soekarno is not a prophet. He is an ordinary human being who even when he was young read a lot of ideas about democracy. European socialist society. But he is still a Javanese who absorbs the values of Javanese society and the state, so that when he later becomes president and holds power, consciously or unconsciously he wants to live the life of a Javanese king."

"You will laugh out loud, or cry sadly, if you hear that in 1963 when Ratna Sari Dewi returned to Japan in anger (purik), Soekarno sent ministers and even the prime minister to persuade her to return to Indonesia," said Ajip Rosidi. in the book Who Came Naked: Letters of Ajip Rosidi from Japan 1980-2002 (2008).

The love is increasing day by day. Many of Soekarno's ministers were assigned to win the heart of Ratna Sari Dewi. Including when Ratna Sari Dewi wanted to complete her Islam with Hajj.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Soebandrio. (Wikimedia Commons)

Bung Karno He immediately sent Deputy Prime Minister, Soebandrio and Minister of Religion Saifuddin Zuhri to accompany Dewi on the pilgrimage. Bung Karno's request was approved for the second time on April 8, 1965. Even then, Dewi Soekarno's pilgrimage went smoothly. Even though Soekarno did not accompany him because he was unable to attend. That said, there is a state duty.

"Except for that, I feel like I myself will be more solemn in worshiping than if I was still the Minister of Religion. Because carrying out the pilgrimage when he is the Minister of Religion who takes care of the Hajj will take care of more tasks than taking care of his worship. After all, I received an invitation from the Egyptian Minister of Endowments to visit Cairo.”

"Of course I have to say goodbye to the President. Not only did the president approve of my departure, but even Ratna Sari Dewi was 'entrusted' with me, who would also fulfill the 5th pillar of Islam. Bung Karno's wife was accompanied by other women, Mrs. Juanda, Mrs. Chairul Saleh, Mrs. Martadinata, Mrs. Priyono, Mrs. Ibnu Sutowo and others," concluded Saifuddin Zuhri in the book Berangkat dari Pesantren (2013).

A bit of the story of Ratna Sari Dewi, the fifth wife of President Soekarno, became part of the history of today April 8, 1965 in Indonesia.