Mohammad Yamin Plays The Meaning Of The Red And White Flag

Indonesian Independence Fighter and historian, Mohammad Yamin. (Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Red and White Flag is often echoed as an icon of the struggle of the bumiputras. Sang Saka Merah Putih was noted to have been popularized by intellectuals in the era of national movement. From the Indonesian Association (PI) in the Netherlands to the Indonesian National Party (PNI).

Red means brave, white means adultery. Independence fighter Mohammad Yamin spoke up. He said the Red and White Flag had actually been an icon of the struggle of the ancestors of the bumiputras since time immemorial through the Majapahit Kingdom.

Intellectuals in spreading the spirit of Indonesian independence are second to none. They are able to take advantage of education to fight stupid and colonialism. Educational studies make them join various youth organizations. PI, for example.

The organization that accommodates bumiputra students in the Netherlands is the main one spreading the idea of independence abroad from 1908. PI was transformed into the first Bumiputra movement to use the Red and White Flag in 1922.

The flag that was flown contained red and white domination along with a picture of the buffalo's head in the middle. In fact, the use of this color continues to be perpetuated. PI also issued a 15-year anniversary book on overseas soil. The red and white color then dominantly became the cover of the 15th anniversary page of PI 1908-1922.

In fact, it was not only PI that made the Red and White Flag a symbol of resistance. The Indonesian National Party (PNI) made by Soekarno and his friends also made the red-and-white head of the bull as a symbol.

Bung Karno and PNI's existence then spread throughout the country. People often associate PNI with the color of the Red and White Flag. Young people also raised the flag at the Second Youth Congress in 1928.

Congress that gave birth to pledges of blood, nation, Indonesian one language made the Red and White Flag also popular. Therefore, every meeting of freedom fighters towards the Red and White Flag and the anthem Indonesia Raya must exist. At its peak, the Red and White Flag then flew to the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence.

Since 1935 the red and white flag has been depicted in the cards of the PNI association. The Indonesian Movement (Gerindo), and the Indonesian United Party (Parkindo). The Indonesian People's Party (Parindra) has flown since 1935 the red and white green flag as a symbol of unity.

"If at this time they were asked of the leaders of the movement above, is it said to mean the Red and White in the flag they are maintaining, then on average they provide information, that: Red is courage. White ismulty. A sense of courage and beauty that encourages them to fight and give leadership to the eternal Indonesian movement, "is written in the Instruction of the Central War Rulers on Social Awareness Operations in 1959 as quoted by Army Magazine (1959).

The presence of the Red and White Flag had created a pros and cons. The contrast groups said the flag was present because it followed the Dutch colonial flag: Red and White Blue. The blue color was removed as if eliminating tyranny.

There are also assumptions that consider the Red and White Flag to be an example of Monaco or Japan. Many freedom fighters also disagreed. The Indonesian government, especially so. The power owner then formed a special committee to find the meaning of the Red and White Flag in 1946.

The committee of Indonesia Raya, his name. The committee was chaired by Ki Hajar Dewantara. Mohammad Yamin was transformed into a secretariat. Yamin's presence is considered decisive. He perpetuates a series of research and analysis related to the history of the Red and White.

Yamin also interprets the presence of the Red and White Flag as not a new item in the archipelago. The flag has been present since time immemorial. Yamin refers to the kingdoms of the archipelago who often use the Red and White as an identity. The Majapahit kingdom became Yamin's most echoed.

Yamin's view also breaks the chain of view that the Red and White Flag follows the Monaco Flag. This is because Yamin refers to the existence of the domestic kingdom, namely Majapahit, which reached its golden age in the era of Hayam Wuruk and Maha Patih Gajah Mada.

The excavation of the meaning of the Red and White Flag in the style of Yamin in fact provoked criticism. Mohammad Hatta and Tan Malaka became a harsh name to criticize a set of Yamin's version of the Red and White story. Both disagree if the Red and White flag is linked with Majapahit's imprealism.

However, not all of them reject Yamin's meaning. There are also many national figures who support Yamin's narrative. Bung Karno, for example. Big Brother often boasted about Yamin's excavation of Sang Saka Merah Putih everywhere.

"Has we had a government organization at that time? Not yet? We don't have anything, except just a few things. First, we already have the Saka Merah Putih, which I have repeatedly said, has even been explained by the late Prof. Mr. Moh. Yamin, that we have been glorifying the red and white color for 6,000 years. "

"On August 17, 1945, even though we don't have anything else, we already have the flag of the Red and White or the red and white wama. What else do we have?" Soekarno said on the Birthday of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia, October 5, 1966, as quoted in the book Bung Karno: Security-Resilience Issue (2010).