Jakarta Officially Has a City Symbol on Today’s History, August 30 1951

Portrait of the atmosphere in the Glodok area, West Jakarta in the 1950s with the object of the Orion cinema building which is now the electronic trading center Glodok Plaza. (Twitter/@potretlawas)

JAKARTA – Today's history, 72 years ago, August 30, 1951, Jakarta officially has a city symbol. The determination is in accordance with the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs. The presence of this symbol marked the end of the symbol for the City of Batavia which later changed to Djakarta.

Previously, the issue of the symbol of the City of Batavia had been brewed from the early phase of Dutch colonialism. Jan Pieterszoon Coen is behind it. he wanted the citizens of Batavia to have pride. The symbol of the city of Batavia was drafted complete with its life slogan: Don't give up.

The plan of the Dutch trading company, the VOC to conquer Jayakarta became a reality in 1619. The VOC destroyed the whole of Batavia. Even then on top of the ruins, the Company built a new city. The city of Batavia, its name.

The development of Batavia was the plan of the VOC Governor General who had served twice (1619-1623 and 1627-1629), Jan Pieterszoon Coen. He wanted to make Batavia like a colony. The goal is that the Company's profits from the spice trade can be multiplied.

Coen wanted many Europeans – the Dutch in particular – to come and settle in Batavia. Coen wanted to build a City with high moral standards. The preparations he made varied. He prepared all kinds of city equipment.

The coat of arms of the City of Jakarta which was used from 30 August 1951 to 20 June 1963. (Wikimedia Commons)

Everything was done so that the morale of the citizens of Batavia was maintained. Alias ​​away from sinful and despicable acts. As a form of seriousness, Coen asked the ranks to present an appropriate symbol to describe the City of Batavia.

The symbol was used as a charm to encourage Batavia residents who lived far from their hometowns. Coen also introduced the symbol of the city of Batavia on August 15, 1620. He did not forget to make his life motto an important part of the symbol of the City of Batavia. The motto is Dispereert Niet (don't give up).

“Among these symbols, the oldest is the symbol of Batavia, the city that was formerly called Jacatra by the VOC, is actually Jayakarta. The coat of arms, adopted on August 15, 1620, is a rood-geel, orange shield, in the center of which is a sword. This sword is circled with brownish-green leaves, the two lower sides of which are decorated with ribbons.

“This band actually only appeared on the Batavian coat of arms which was printed on the currency of 1643. The coat of arms of the city of Batavia used the motto of Jan Pieterszoon Coen, who was governor-general twice (1619-1623 and 1627-1629), Despereert Niet, don't give up . This figure is also famous for his other words, daer can in Indien wat groots verricht: Because in the Indies great things can be done," said P. Swantoro in the book From Book to Book: Connecting Connecting to Become One (2016).

The Batavia coat of arms lasted a long time with various modifications. Even the Batavia symbol was still used when the Company was replaced by the Dutch East Indies colonial government and the initial phase of Indonesia's independence. This narrative occurs because the issue of changing the symbol has not yet become the government's focus. The Revolutionary War was in turmoil so the main reason.

The symbol of the City of Batavia during the VOC reign. (Wikimedia Commons)

The desire to create a symbol for the city of Jakarta only emerged when the Netherlands had recognized Indonesian sovereignty in 1949. The Mayor of Jakarta, Raden Suwiryo, even held a contest to choose the right symbol for Greater Jakarta.

The contest was attended by 111 artists. The committee committee was arranged optimally. An artist named Djajamarta emerged victorious.

Finally, the symbol made by Djajamarta was used officially on 30 August 1951. Even though the visual form had to be improved first. The use of the symbol is based on the Decree of the Minister of Home Affairs No. 45/1/6. The name of the City of Batavia was officially changed to Djakarta. Even though the logo was modified back in 1963.

"With the establishment of the Greater Jakarta Municipality in a different realm of independence from the old Batavia city council, the municipality needs a symbol that is suitable and in accordance with its position and conditions in this independent and sovereign country."

"Therefore, the municipality held a competition to create a new symbol. the contest was attended by 111 painters from all over Indonesia. finally the creation of the painter Djajamarta with a few changes here and there was chosen to become the symbol of Greater Jakarta," written in the letter History of the Government of the City of Djakarta (1958).