The Story Behind The Birth Of Lagu Raya Raya

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The song Indonesia Raya is currently being discussed on social media. The song that always reverberates, not only during flag ceremonies or the commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day, but also official activities from the lowest level to the national scale, is insulted by Malaysians.

In fact, the hashtag #IndonesiaRaya and #Malaysia became trending topics today, Monday, December 28, after a Malaysian citizen 'parodied' the Indonesia Raya song and uploaded the song on the MY Asean account bearing the Malaysian flag logo. Currently, this account no longer appears on YouTube.

But, do you know the story behind the birth of the song Indonesia Raya?

Reporting from the Ministry of Education and Culture, Monday, December 28, the Indonesia Raya National Anthem was created by Wage Rudolf Supratman, an ordinary young man who works as a journalist in Bandung and Jakarta. The young Wage, diligently contributed articles to several newspapers at that time, such as Kaoem Moeda, Kaoem Kita, and Sin Po.

WR Supratman's involvement in the national movement began around 1928, when he saw an announcement in the Solo issue of Timboel magazine, inviting Indonesian composers to compose the national anthem.

WR Soepratman who felt challenged then sent a song he composed, entitled Indonesia Raya.

This Indonesia Raya song was not immediately used as the Indonesian national anthem. As a journalist, it was Soepratman's job to cover various movement activities, one of which was the Second Youth Congress on October 28, 1928 or also known as the Youth Pledge Day.

At that time Soepratman met one of Soekarno's friends and also a young figure, Soegondo Djojopeospito.

This meeting produced a very precious moment, when Soegondo asked Soepratman to perform his song at the congress but to avoid repression from the colonialists, the song was performed without lyrics.

So the song Indonesia Raya was played by WR Soepratman for the first time at the Second Youth Congress, October 28, 1928 at the Indonesische Clubgebouw Building, Jl Kramat Raya 106.

Reported by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the National Anthem of Indonesia Raya has 3 stanzas or 3 lines of different lyrics.

The following is an overview of the meaning contained in the original lyrics of this Indonesian people's pride song.

The first Stanza underlined the words "Let us cry out for a united Indonesia". In this sentence there is a meaning of encouragement and a call for Indonesia, which was not yet independent.

In addition, in the first stanza, there is also the word "Wake up the soul, wake up the body" which was previously "Wake up the body, wake up the soul". These two phrases were changed in position at the behest of Soekarno, who argued, "A person will not wake up if his soul does not wake up first. Only a slave whose body is awakened but the soul is not. "

Continues to the second stanza, where the emphasized phrase is "Let Us Pray, Happy Indonesia." The deep meaning is contained in the lyrics above, which means a spiritual foundation by always praying for a happy Indonesia.

Then the next lyric is "Sadarlah Budinya, Sadarlah Heart" which means Indonesian people who always have a good mind and heart.

In the last stanza, the third stanza, there is an agrarian oath and mandate inserted in the lyrics of the Indonesia Raya National Anthem. The oath of loyalty is uttered in the lyrics of "Marilah Kita Promise, Indonesia Abadi." Meanwhile, the agrarian mandate is contained in the lyrics which reads "Welcome the people, save the son, the island, the sea, everything."

The meaning of agrarian as meant in this lyric is not limited to the land, but everything that is contained in Indonesia, including land, sea, and outer space. To emphasize the meaning of agrarianism, when Indonesia was one year old, the government at that time had carried out an Agrarian Revolution.

Knowing Indonesia is not only limited to studying the history of the nation and its language, but more than that, living and absorbing the National Anthem of Indonesia Raya is also a form of practice and our pride for the blood-shed country, Indonesia.

Here are the lyrics of the song Indonesia Raya Tiga stanza

Indonesia is my homeland, The land where my blood is shed, There I stand, So guide my mother.

Indonesia, my nationality, nation and homeland, Let us cry out, Indonesia is united.

Long live my land, Long live my country, My people, my people, all of them, Awake the soul, Build the body, For Great Indonesia.

II

Indonesia, glorious land, our rich land, there I stand, For ever.

Indonesia, the heritage land, all of us P'saka, Let us pray, Indonesia is happy.

Fertilize the land, Fertilize the soul, the Nation, the People, everything,

Be aware of his heart, Be aware of his heart, For Great Indonesia.

III

Indonesia, a holy land, our sacred land, there I stand, Take care of a true mother.

Indonesia, radiant land, Land that I care about, Let us promise, Indonesia is eternal.

S'lamatlah the people, S'lamatlah the son, the Island, the sea, everything,

Forward the country, for the pandunya, for Great Indonesia.

Chorus

Great Indonesia, Merdeka, Freedom, My Land, my beloved country! Great Indonesia, Freedom, Freedom, Long live Great Indonesia.