The Song Indonesia Raya Is Once Prohibited From Singing In Public Faces In History Today, December 26, 1928

The 20th anniversary of the acceptance of the song Indonesia Raya by WR Soepratman as the national anthem on October 28, 1948. (Perpusnas)

JAKARTA History today, 84 years ago, December 26, 1928, Patih Batavia (now: Jakarta), Raden Kandoeroean Wirahadikoesoema banned the song Indonesia Raya from being sung in public. The ban was carried out because there was political content behind the song. Moreover, he considered the song not suitable to be heard at public events, especially events attended by young people.

Previously, the presence of the song Indonesia Raya which was created by Wage Rudolf (WR) Soepratman made the natives divided. Some like it and some like it.

WR Soepratman is known to be reliable in various fields. He is not only known as a genius musician, but also as a deft journalist. This skill made the editor-in-chief of the Sin Po newspaper assigned Soepratman to cover the first Youth Congress in Batavia from April 30 to May 2, 1926.

Soepratman did not waste this opportunity. He paid attention to the path of the congress solemnly. Speech from young people made his desire to contribute to freeing the shackles of burning colonialism.

He also stated his intention to compose an bumiputra national anthem. The intention was welcomed by the youth. He allocated a lot of time to compose the national anthem. Indonesia Raya," he said.

The song only got the opportunity to be played at the Second Youth Congress on October 28, 1928. He managed to play the song Indonesia Raya thanks to permission from the congressional leader Sugondo Djodopuspito.

The strain was heard in the middle of the Second Youth Congress at Clubgebouw, Jalan Kramat 106, Batavia. All attended for the first time listening to the song Indonesia Raya live.

At the Indonesian Youth Congress II, on October 28, 1928, for the first time the song Indonesia Raya was introduced. At the congress WR Soepratman swisted his violin wisely, the audience silently listened to him. The atmosphere of the room was quiet and calm. Then continued with the youth coordination of Indonesian Student Association.

They performed the song Indonesia Raya, which was led directly by WR Soepratman accompanied by the Indonesian Merdeka Orchestra. The audience was fixated on it. The song by WR Soepratman reverberated, inflamed the soul and ignited the fighting spirit of the Indonesian people. It's as if the blood of the audience who heard it boil by the fire of the spirit of the independent Indonesian fighting," said Anthony C. Hutabarat in the book straightening the History and History of the Life of Wage Rudolf Soepratman (2001).

Later, the song actually brought up the pros and cons of the Bumiputras themselves. In addition to positive comments, Indonesia Raya also received a lot of negative comments. Especially from students in Batavia. Many say that the song Indonesia Raya does not have strength. Hammar only. Keroncong song is considered better.

Among other amtenars, let alone. The bumiputra official did not give a few criticisms. Batavia Regent (Regent), RT Achmad also said that the song Indonesia Raya was doubtful that intellectuals would accept it. Alias, Indonesia Raya cannot be a famous song.

While Patih Batavia, Raden Kandoeroean Wirahadikoesoema revealed that the song was full of political interests and was not suitable for listening to at public events, especially by young people. He revealed about the song Indonesia Raya at the Indonesian Youth meeting in Batavia on December 26, 1928.

On December 26, at a meeting of Indonesian Youth in Batavia, Patih Batavia forbade singing the song Indonesia Raya on the basis that the song was a political song that was not suitable for public events, especially for young people, "said historian John Ingleson in the book Road to Imposition: Indonesian Nationalist Movement in 1927-1934 (1983).