Today's History, May 31, 1899: Pioneer Of Indonesian Independence, Iwa Kusumasumantri Born In Ciamis

The date of birth of the pioneering independence figure Iwa Kusumasumantri in Ciamis on May 31, 1899 is today's history in Indonesia. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA – Today's history is 123 years ago, 31 May 1899 a pioneer of Indonesian independence, Iwa Kusumasumantri was born in Ciamis, West Java. His presence as a freedom fighter is proof that the national movement is not just a mere "monopoly" of STOVIA students.

Pioneers of independence were also present at the law school Rechtshoogeschool (RHS). During his lifetime, Iwa was known as a revolutionary. He, Hatta, and other students in the Netherlands were the figures who gave birth to the political concept: Indonesia. The service will not be forgotten.

Perhaps the driving force for the national movement came from students of the School tot Opleiding van Inlandsche Artsen (STOVIA). The Bumiputra medical school gave birth to many pioneers of independence. Soewardi Soerjaningrat (Ki Hajar Dewantara) and Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo are some of them.

However, this does not mean that the national movement is a monopoly on STOVIA students. Iwa Kusumasumantri, for example. Instead, he came from the RHS law school in Batavia. Just like STOVIA, the school produced many national movement figures.

Iwa Kusumasumantri (second from right clockwise) in a meeting. (Doc. National Library)

Iwa's gait itself is no less interesting. Iwa was born into a lowly priyayi family. This status allows Iwa to access a proper education. Moreover, the parents themselves are so concerned with the education of their children. During his youth, Iwa was educated at the Opleiding School Voor Indlandsche Ambtenaren (OSVIA) in Bandung. His parents hoped that Iwa could become a pangreh praja (local official).

Iwa was not at home. He wants to go to a school according to his conscience. Therefore, the RHS law school was chosen. There, Iwa not only studied law and history, but he joined other freedom fighters to liberate the nation.

Jong Java so the mouthpiece is moving. He also continued his education in the Netherlands. There he and his friends gave birth to the political concept: Indonesia.

“There is a portrait of Bung Hatta in the Netherlands -- still young, in the 1920s. There is a portrait of Moh. Roem also there. There is also Ali Sastroamidjojo, Ahmad Subardjo, Iwa Kusumasumantri, Sjahrir, and many more. Embossed in history books or personal memoirs, the portraits always depict young faces, neatly dressed and all faces facing the lens, and eyes that represent a determined youthful spirit.”

“The impression that is always caught: intellectual life that is being galvanized, even if the homeland is from someone else's country. And indeed, it was the Netherlands that was the first arena for our students (the term at that time: students) to fight. There in 1908, Indische Vereeniging was formed, then Indonesische Vereeniging and finally Perhimpoenan Indonesia in the Netherlands, the association that first propagated the independence of the republic," wrote a Tempo magazine report entitled Kisah Mahasiswa Indonesia di LN (1981).

Iwa Kusumasumantri gave a speech as Minister of Social Affairs in President Soekarno's cabinet on 19 September 1945. (Doc. National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia)

After returning from the Netherlands, Iwa emerged as a figure who was labeled a radical by the Dutch. His movements and criticisms through writing were considered to disturb the existence of the colonial government. He was immediately exiled to Banda Neira, then with Bung Hatta, Tjipto, and Sjahrir in exile.

Indonesian independence is something that is certain, Iwa thought. He also lived life in exile with full of optimism, until finally, Indonesia became independent in 1945. Bung Karno also appointed Iwa as Indonesia's first Minister of Social Affairs. The career was continued with other high-profile positions.

"Iwa then reappeared in politics as a member of the DPR and later became Minister of Civil Defense, who had faced a crisis on October 17, 1952. In the final decade of Sukarno's leadership, he served as Chancellor of Padjadjaran University Bandung, Minister of Science and Higher Education, and minister of state. ,” concluded the historian Ong Hok Ham in his article in Tempo Magazine entitled Patah Grows A Pioneer (2002).

On November 2, 2002, under President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Iwa Kusumasumantri was declared a National Hero of Indonesia. During the New Order era under President Suharto, Iwa's proposal to be appointed as a National Hero of Indonesia was always rejected because his figure was considered close to the communist camp.

That is today's history, May 31, 1899, about Iwa Kusumasumantri, one of the pioneers of Indonesian independence.