On June 6, the first President of Indonesia, Sukarno, had
his birthday. Sukarno was born Kusno Sosrodihardjo on June 6, 1901 in Lawang
Seketeng, Surabaya, East Java. His father was Raden Soekemi Sosrodihardjo, a
teacher in Surabaya, Java. His mother, Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai, is from Buleleng,
Bali.
Sukarno was called the son of the dawn because, according to
Javanese belief that people were born at sunrise, their fate had been conquered
first. His birth dawned on a new day and century because Sukarno was born in
1901. The conditions that started Sukarno with all new beginnings made him seem
destined as a reformer in the future he lived.
The birthday is marked by the number six and the star
Gemini, the symbol of twins, and that's what Sukarno looked like—two opposite
traits. Sukarno could be soft, could be chatty, could be tricky like steel, and
could also be soft rhythmically. His demeanor is a blend of healthy thoughts
and emotional vibrations. Sukarno was forgiving, but he was stubborn. He put
the enemies of the country behind bars, but he did not let the birds be
confined in cages. Another incident that was considered a harbinger of fate by
Sukarno was the eruption of Mount Kelud when he was born.
He stated, "Superstitionists foretell predictions; this
is welcome to baby Sukarno." In addition, the explanation of Kusno's name
change to Karno also gave one more myth in little Sukarno about himself as a
future warrior and hero of his nation. The belief in the signs that appeared on
the day of his birth gave Sukarno a picture of the future from his childhood.
In the pages of Indonesian constitutional history, Sukarno
is recorded as the first President of Indonesia who served from 1945-1966. But
his role in the struggle of the Indonesian nation is much broader. Sukarno and
M. Hatta read the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence on August 17, 1945.
Therefore, Sukarno received the title of Mr. Proclamator. In addition, he also
became one of the Fathers of the Nation who played many roles in awakening,
giving the nation's identity, and laying the foundation of the Republic of
Indonesia, namely Pancasila, which was delivered on June 1, 1945. Before
explaining the basis of the state, Sukarno spoke at length about the need to
achieve independence as soon as possible. Like Karno, people who want to marry
do not have to have a house first, have furniture, and so on. Similarly, with
independence, there is no need to wait until various state equipment exists.
To read Sukarno correctly, ultimately, must be seen from the
long history of his struggle for the Indonesian nation. Sukarno was a very
romantic man who was never selfish but always thought of the country's
importance. Since young Sukarno actively fought against the Dutch. When the
number of the nation's elite who fought for independence was still small,
Sukarno had sacrificed time, energy, and future since he was a student at ITB,
without counting the gains and losses of his struggle. As an engineer, Sukarno
had the opportunity to obtain a job that promised income and adequate material
facilities. However, none of this was used; even Sukarno sacrificed his youth
and was often in and out of prison for an independent Indonesia. This was
Sukarno's unyielding attitude in the struggle against colonialism and
imperialism in Indonesia and most Asian African countries. Going in and out of
prison and living in exile for a dozen years did not change the attitude of his
political struggle to achieve an independent Indonesia.
But as an ordinary man, Sukarno was not without weaknesses.
As a state official, for example, he had "enjoyed" his position so
much that there was an impression that he no longer placed himself as a public
servant in a democratic society. As president, he should be aware of his
position as a person in office as long as the people mandate him, even with
certain term limits. Sukarno ignored that. It seemed that Sukarno did not need
any other "support." We still remember when on December 1, 1956,
Hatta resigned from the position of Vice President. We also still remember his
close people, such as Sjahrir, Amir Syarifuddin, Tan Malaka, and Moh. Natsir
and others, one by one, distanced themselves from him. In the mid-1950s,
Sukarno's incredible attention to his position made him unaware that the impact
of the cold war had far-reaching Indonesia.
The victory of the PKI in the 1955 and the 1957 regional
elections, for example, had influenced the attention and policies of the main
actors of the cold war toward Indonesia. On the one hand, China and the Soviet
Union welcomed the victory joyfully because it signaled the spread of communism
in Indonesia. On the other hand, the US and its allies said the success raised
their fears that Indonesia would break away from Western circles of influence.
In the domino theory mindset, the loss of Indonesia would threaten Western
interests in Southeast Asia. Little by little, a stage of tension was built. In
1965-1966 the location was the scene of a bloody struggle between the PKI and
Western-backed armed elements.
Sukarno came to his senses but too late. He trembled as he
watched hundreds of thousands of his loved ones being slaughtered in a planned
and brutal manner. Little by little, he was clamped. Finally, the father of the
nation and the great teacher of this nation was removed from the stage of
power. He died a poor political prisoner in a country where he fought so hard
for independence. The end of Sukarno's life was heartbreaking. But his
teachings as the father of the nation and teacher of the country remain
relevant and essential for this nation-state. People can learn not only from
what is said but also from actions, along with their advantages and weaknesses.
We hope that the youth of this country will not tire of continuing to learn
from history, including from Sukarno.
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