Soekarno-Fatmawati's Love Blossomed On The Badminton Court

Soekarno and Fatmawati (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Life in exile is not all bad. The proclaimer of Indonesia, Soekarno has proven this during his exile in Ende (1934-1938) and then Bengkulu (1938-1942). Soekarno tried several new things, including badminton. In the field his love for Fatmawati blossomed.

Soekarno became a coach. Fatmawati became a student. Thanks to that, their love blossomed on the badminton court. Soekarno was stressed when the colonial government wanted to exile him to Ende, East Nusa Tenggara in 1938. In his imagination, Ende was a remote place. Like at the end of the world.

Bung Karno seemed confused about how he could restore the fighting spirit that had already been passionate. However, his wife, Inggit Garnasih, continued to encourage him. His wife's support was actually quite effective in raising Bung Karno's fighting spirit.

From then on, Bung Karno got along a lot with all the people of Ende. Regardless of his social background, Bung Karno got along with everyone. He is familiar with coconut pickers, drivers, unemployed bachelors, and fishermen. So close, Bung Karno and Ende's young people founded a play group called Sandiwara Kelimutu.

Every two weeks Soekarno took his group to practice under a tree, while being lit by the moonlight. During the four years he was in Ende, there were 12 plays written by Bung Karno himself.

“But, in exile in Ende (1934-1938), Soekarno seemed to have decided on a new career. Not political, but still smells of stage. He wrote 12 plays, one of which was titled Dr. Satan, inspired by Frankenstein."

"He also founded the Kalimutu Sandiwara Association, named after the island's famous lake, made his own billboards for the show, designed costumes, and drew decorations. Sukarno's political career seemed to be ending there. But history took a different turn," the report said. Tempo magazine entitled Soekarno: A Bima, A Hamlet (2001).

Bung Karno in Ende (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

In exile, Bengkulu is the same. Bung Karno immediately joined a play or tonil group called Monte Carlo. As before, the theatrical medium became Soekarno's tool to inflame the spirit of resistance against Dutch colonialism.

In order to perpetuate his passion, Soekarno chose multiple positions, from scriptwriter to director. Bung Karno did everything to foster a nationalist spirit among Bengkulu youth. Through plays that echo the spirit of anti-imperalism.

Shortly after, Bung Karno was appointed as the leader of Monte Carlo. Bung Karno began to incorporate a new formula in his performing arts. At first the Monte Carlo group was only engaged in the performing arts of orchestral music.

But then Monte Carlo developed into a musical performance art. Some of the manuscripts that have been staged by the Monte Carlo group are Dr. Sjaitan, Chungking Djakarta, Koetkoetbi, and Rainbow (Poeteri Kentjana Boelan).

“Bung Karno needs an organization, namely the Monte Carlo theatrical group in Bengkulu. He also needs an audience to watch the play. There was a message he wanted to convey. What Soekarno did in the 1930s started his policy several decades later. Symbolically, when showing the development of Jakarta since the early 1960s, Bung Karno envisioned a stage," wrote Hero Triarmono in the book The Special Story of Bung Karno (2010).

Love blooms on the badminton court

The success of raising the Monte Carlo theatrical group did not make Soekarno feel satisfied quickly. Later, Soekarno also recruited young people who had an interest in sports: soccer and badminton. The goal is clear.

Apart from nourishing the body and soul, Bung Karno wanted to spread the message of anti-colonialism and anti-imperialism. For a football group, it is called Elftal Monte Carlo (Monte Carlo team). The badminton group is called Monte Carlo.

In the badminton association, Bung Karno himself acted as a coach. Inevitably many Bengkulu youths joined. The reason was because at that time badminton was being loved by the people in Angut Atas, and the whole city of Bengkulu.

Fatmawati - who became Soekarno's adopted son - even joined the badminton group as a protege. Because of that the two of them got closer. Soekarno was not only a good coach, but also acted as a discussion partner for Fatmawati.

Moreover, Fatmawati is classified as a woman who is skeptical of many things. This skepticism is often expressed by Fatmawati in many questions about badminton. For example, regarding the types of rules to strokes in badminton. For this reason, of all Soekarno's students in the badminton group, it was Fatmawati who was most often trained by Bung Karno.

“I am happy for Fatmawati. I taught him to play badminton. He strolled with me along the sandy beach and, while the white foamy waves beat against our feet, we questioned life or questioned God and the religion of Islam,” Bung Karno's story was written by Cindy Adams in Bung Karno's book: Connecting the Tongue of the Indonesian People ( 1965).

Soekarno and Fatmawati (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Departing from badminton practice, the closeness of the two continued as friends for study and discussion. Once a week, Bung Karno visited Fatmawati's house to teach her English and good reading. In between studies, Bung Karno often had long discussions with Fatmawati.

The topics are varied. The two sometimes talk about independence, philosophy, marriage and polygamy. The feeling of love grows. Bung Karno then expressed this feeling directly to Fatmawati.

“You know, Fat, I am confused about answering my mother's questions in Blitar, she repeatedly wrote to me when she was given a grandson. I'm in exile. You're the only one to be my consolation. If I'm in Jakarta I can negotiate with Moh. Husni Thamrin or Mr. Sartono and others. Who will have those books you see in my room?” seduction Soekarno was written by Fatmawati in the book Small Notes with Bung Karno (2016).

“I want one son, just one, if more, thank God. I am a leader of the people who want to liberate their people from the Netherlands, but I don't think I can continue if you don't wait and accompany me. You are the light of my life to continue the great and terrible struggle," continued the husband's death appeal from Inggit Garnasih.

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

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