Mr. Karno's Friendship With City And Other Fishermen When Exiled In Ende

JAKARTA - Soekarno is respected not only because of his way of leading. Soekarno also made his interactions with the people a lesson. Including when he was exiled to the 'Fisherman Village' in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) during 1934-1938. Mr. Karno learned a lot from fishermen. Their lives were Mr. Karno's bullets to be free from colonialism.

Prison and exile are two things that were familiar to young Mr. Karno. His ideas always amaze the native people. At public meetings, Mr. Karno was always the center of attention. The same thing happened when he spoke on the podium.

As a result, the Dutch colonialists classified Soekarno as a dangerous figure for their existence in the archipelago. Sukamiskin Prison then became the answer to stem Mr. Karno. In fact, it is not enough. For Mr. Karno, the jail was nothing more than a risk of struggle.

Bung Karno in a speech (Source: Geuheugen.delpher.nld)

After leaving prison, Soekarno repeated the same thing. In fact, the political intensity is increasing. The colonial government, which had been absurdly disturbed, recaptured Mr. Big. The Dutch did not want to be missed by only punishing Mr. Karno in prison.

The Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Bonifacius Cornelis de Jonge (1931-1936) chose to exile Son Of The Dawn to Ende. The decision was issued on December 28, 1933. In that frame, his wife, Inggit, joined the struggle. To meet the needs of her family in exile, Inggit sells anything. Her house, which is on Javaveem Street, Bandung, was also sold.

“At Tanjung Perak, the discarded family was put on the Van Riebeeck ship. The whistle blew, and the ship sailed on. Eight days and eight nights journey from Surabaya to Ende. The Kusno family (Soekarno's nickname) was stationed in Ambugaga. The roof of the house is made of zinc, the poles are made of wood. No electricity. When night falls, rely on kerosene lamps. Fortunately, it has a large yard so it can be planted, eliminating resentment," wrote in the March 1984's issue of Mangle Magazine, as quoted by Deni Rachman in the book Kisah-Kisah Istimewa Inggit Garnasih (2020).

Mr. Karno in Ende

Arriving at Ende, Mr. Karno immediately realized that in this city political activity was almost non-existent. There is no discussion or debate. Moreover, there was no one here he knew. De Jonge seemed to make Ende, a fishing village, an open prison for Mr. Karno.

The population of Ende is only five thousand people. The condition of the city is still underdeveloped. The majority of its residents are farmers and fishermen. In Ende, Soekarno had difficulty accessing the outside world. He did not have a telephone, nor had a telegraph. The only access to the outside world was through two postal ships in and out. Even then, once a month.

Mr. Karno in Ende, NTT (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

So, with these two ships, twice a month Mr. Karno and his family received letters and newspapers from outside. As a result, Ende became a place for Mr. Karno to contemplate many things and in his spare time, Mr. Karno perpetuated another hobby, namely writing 12 plays.

"However, in exile in Ende (1934-1938), Soekarno seemed to have really decided on a new career. Not political, but still on stage. He wrote 12 plays, one of which was entitled Dr. Satan, inspired by Frankenstein. He also founded the Kalimutu Theater of Action, named after the island's famous lake, making his own billboards for the show, designing costumes, and drawing decorations. It seemed that Sukarno's political career would end there. But history turns in another direction,” wrote a report by Tempo magazine entitled Soekarno: Seorang Bima, Seorang Hamlet (2001).

Mr. Karno and the fishermen

Perhaps, in Mr. Karno's view, Ende was quite isolated. Like the end of the world. However, Mr. Karno did not immediately give up. To restore his enthusiasm, Mr. Karno pondered a lot and mingled with all Ende residents.

Mr. Karno mingled with coconut pickers, drivers, unemployed men, and fishermen to become friends. The most impressive thing was when he got acquainted with a fisherman named Kota.

To the City, Mr. Karno opened the gates of his house-wide. After that, the two of them actively visited each other. Moreover, during that visit, Mr. Karno really enjoyed relaxing activities by the beach.

Sometimes Mr. Karno took his wife. Sometimes they also invite their adopted children, Ratna Djoeami and Kartika. They enjoy the charm of Ende Beach, from the beautiful scent of the full moon on the beach to the roaring waves. In the midst of this activity, Mr. Karno saw firsthand the business of Ende fishermen who had just gone to sea.

Mr. Karno at Ende (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

"Fishermen are the richest human beings, but also the poorest. They are the people who are most patient with the arrival of fish to the hook. They are rich with fish but very poor with money," Mr. Karno told Omi (Ratna Djoeami) and Kartika as quoted by Lily Martin in the book Kisah Cinta Inggit dan Bung Karno (1992).

In his reflection, Mr. Karno at first did not understand how the fishermen who owned so many fish but did not have money. Mr. Karno then realized that an abundance of fish was nothing if the majority of Ende's population only depended on marine products for their livelihoods. As a result, the existing fishermen do not dare to charge a fair price for each fish they catch.

"Therefore we must be grateful. Because our lives are much better than them. Praise God always so that the advantages that he has given us, can not be taken back," said Inggit Garnasih closing Mr. Karno's story.

In his concern for fishermen, Mr. Karno learned many things. Especially, related to sensitivity to the problem of the dispossessed. His experience chatting with fishermen, farmers, and drivers became the driving force for Mr. Karno to fight for the destiny of the poor. Poverty became the basis for Mr. Karno to fight, defend, and bring all Indonesian people beyond the shackles of Dutch colonialism.

"I miss the island of Java, I miss my friends to love me. Longing for life and everything that was taken from me. While sitting there I saw a man walk by. Alone. And soaking wet. Suddenly he was shivering. I think my compassion covers the whole human race because seeing this man shiver, I also shiver. Even though my body was dry, I immediately felt soaked. Of course, this feeling can be explained by reason of reason, but it is more than that. I really feel for a person who is poor - whether he is poor in wealth or poor in spirit," said Mr. Karno, as quoted by Cindy Adams in Bung Karno: Penyambung Lidah Rakyat Indonesia (1965).

* Read other information about SOEKARNO or read other interesting articles from Detha Arya Tifada.