Mohammad Hatta Calls Budi Utomo Not A National Movement Icon

The founders of the Budi Utomo organization, which Mohammad Hatta calls is not an icon of the national movement. (kemendikbud.go.id)

JAKARTA - On May 17, 1958, national figure Mohammad Hatta said that the establishment of Budi Utomo was not the main cause of the national movement. Budi Utomo did have a contribution, but not too significant.

This opinion was expressed by Hatta in his article in Star Daily Magazine. Previously, Budi utomo's presence was greeted with great fanfare by the bumiputras. his presence gave a new breath to the world of movement.

Education has a big role in all kinds of struggles. This narrative can be seen when all the natives want to release the shackles of colonialism. Education is able to open the realm of thinking of the natives.

Mainly, students who are members of the Bumiputra doctor's school, School tot Opleiding van Inlandsche Artsen (STOVIA). It was a series of students who then initiated an organization on May 20, 1908. Budi Utomo, his name.

Budi Utomo is widely remembered as an organization that defends the fate and rights of the bumiputras. They want all natives to be touched by education. This means that education is considered the key to breaking free from the shackles of colonialism.

As a result, Budi Utomo became the first organization of the native people who were national and modern. The narrative of awareness of independence continues to be raised by Budi Utomo. This spirit made other educated youths attracted to join.

This movement made Budi Utomo even more famous. In fact, Budi Utomo had received the attention of the Dutch. The owner of power considers Budi Utomo's existence can interfere with Dutch power in the archipelago.

The decision was made to form a student organization to advance the interests of low priyayi. In May 1908, a meeting was held that gave birth to Budi Utomo. The name Java (which should have been treated as the main good) was translated into Dutch by the organization as a het schoone stretch (a beautiful endeavor).

"But according to various Javanese connotations, the name also contains the meaning of scholars, character, or noble culture. At the first meeting, student representatives from STOVIA, OSVIA (Pangreh praja school), teachers' schools, as well as agricultural schools and animal medicine were present. Budi Utomo's branches were established in these educational institutions," said historian MC Ricklefs in the book History of Modern Indonesia 1200-2008 (2008).

After Indonesia's independence, Budi Utomo's presence was also hailed as the estuary of the national revival. In fact, the Indonesian government set the 20th of May which incidentally became Budi Utomo's birthday as National Awakening Day.

The Indonesian government of the Old Order era agreed that Budi Utomo's birth was the beginning of the national revival struggle. The narrative is not fully agreed by many parties. Historians to national figures, let alone.

Bung Hatta was one of those who disagreed. He even stated his attitude in the article in Star Weekly Magazine on May 17, 1958. The article that Hatta created was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the national movement.

Hatta said Budi Utomo did not meet the requirements to become an icon of the national movement. All because Budi Utomo's movement did not make a big eruption for the struggle. Hatta said that the momentum of another national revival was actually scattered in the birth of other organizations. the presence of Sarekat Islam and Indische Partij.

The thought can be read in his article in Star Weekly Magazine, May 17, 1958, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the National Movement. In his writing, Bung Hatta first admitted that Budi Utomo, who was founded on May 20, 1908, did not meet the requirements to be named the National Movement, when measured by the current understanding of the so-called political struggle and national movement. "

"Furthermore, Bung Hatta reminded that from the atmosphere of that time, Budi Utomo already contained an increase in national enthusiasm. Bung Hatta then emphasized that Budi Utomo could be seen as a precursor to the national movement that appeared in 1912 and 1913 with the birth of Nationale Indische Partij and Sarekat Islam," explained P. Swantoro in the book From Book to Book: Connecting To One(2016).