Marilah kita berseru, Indonesia bersatu! Are you familiar with the preceding sentence, t-mates? Yep, it is a lyric from Indonesia Raya, our national anthem. Ah.. is the pride bubbling yet in your heart then? To us, Indonesian, it has become common to have our voice quavering each time we have to sing the national anthem during a ceremony.
Speaking of ceremonies, did you realize that as of 2021, it has been exactly 76 years since the first-ever Independence ceremony was held at Jalan Pegangsaan Timur number 56, Jakarta? So, in order to pay respect to our late national heroes, how about we indulge ourselves in a history class? No nope, you do not have to get the textbook though, you just need to stay on the page longer and scroll to the very bottom!
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Dramatic Happenings prior the Proclamation of Indonesia Independence
It had not been a cushy road at all to proclaim our independence, in fact, it was extremely challenging. Even at the last minute prior to it, our founding fathers had still to overcome hurdles after hurdles. Therefore, we shall never forget the merit of our national heroes. Are you ready to be the witness of all the dramatic happenings back in the day, t-mates? If so, let’s get into it now!
1. The Downfall of Japanese Military
The Japanese Empire was still reigning over Indonesia in August 1945 and at the same time, the world was currently undergoing the second world war, involving Japan. There was an explosion of an atomic bomb in Hiroshima, one of the cities in Japan, brought by The United States. The bomb explosion had indisputably caused a sudden distress to all of the Japanese soldiers around the world.
The next day after the massive explosion in Hiroshima, The Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence also known as BPUPKI modified its name to The Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence or widely referred as PPKI.
The change of the name has expanded the urgency of Indonesian Independence that Ir. Soekarno as the chief of PPKI instructed the committee to wrap up the preparation, so Indonesia would attain its independence soon enough.
In the meantime, there was another atomic bomb explosion in Nagasaki Japan on August 9th, 1945. The second explosion was also brought by The United States, which then led Japan to admit its defeat to the United State. Indonesia on the other hand, took the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing as an opportunity to declare independence.
2. The News of Japanese Military Downfall
Soekarno and Hatta as the chieftains of PPKI flew to Dalat, Saigon, Vietnam alongside Radjiman Wedyodiningrat, the ex-chief of BPUPKI on August 12th, 1945. They had a meeting with General Terauchi, The Commander of Japanese army for Southeast Asia.
On that occasion, they discussed the downfall of Japanese Military and that it had significantly deteriorated since the atomic bombing. The founding fathers of Indonesia also uttered their wish for Indonesia to have its own independence soon. However, at that time, Japan acknowledged the independence as a mere gift from them.
Whereas in Indonesia, Sutan Syahrir got to hear about the news of the Japanese Military downfall through radio on August 14th 1945. That was the moment when the people in Indonesia prepared and made an arrangement for the proclamation of Indonesia Independence and strongly declined the idea that their independence was a mere present from Japan.
3. Soekarno-Hatta were being exiled
The news of Japan admitting its defeat to The United State has surfaced to every corner of Indonesia through a radio broadcast. It reached a number of young men such as Seokarni, Wikana, Aidit and Chaerul Saleh which then held a meeting at Pegangsaan Timur alongside Moh. Hatta.
The meeting was intended to form a declaration which would soon be the fundamental base for the proclamation of Indonesia independence. However, there was a disparate opinion occurring in regards to the proclamation. This occurrence was what prompted them to drive Soekarno and Moh. Hatta out of town to avoid the influence of Japan.
4. The Rengasdengklok Episode
Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta were being exiled to Rengasdengklok, Karawang, West Java by the young men. Their opinion about the time of proclamation that should be held a little later was what motivated the young men to hold them captive somewhere far from the Japan army.
Ahmad Soebardjo eventually arrived at Rengasdengklok to discuss the proclamation further with those young men. He asked them to release Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta in exchange of his own life as a warranty that the proclamation of Indonesia independence would be happening exactly on August 17th 1945, by 12 PM local time.
5. The Arrangement of Proclamation Text
Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta alongside the young men and Ahmad Soebardjo arrived in Jakarta around midnight. They took a little break after the long drive, as suggested by Ahmad Soebardjo, before going to the house of Rear Admiral Tadashi Maeda to see General Nishimura and discuss his say towards the proclamation of Indonesia independence.
The meeting did not get them anywhere though since Japan had admitted its defeat to The United State and Japanese armies were not authorized to have a say about Indonesian politics at all until the arrival of The United Stated armies in Indonesia. Even so, the fact did not stir Ir. Soekarno and Moh. Hatta’s perseverance and they still continued composing the proclamation text.
The proclamation text was composed with Ir. Soekarno, Hatta and Ahmad Soebardjo as the masterminds. It was then preserved into paper with the assistance of Sayuti Melik as the typist. The proclamation text was done at 4.30 AM local time and was also signed by Soekarno-Hatta on behalf of Indonesia.
6. The Proclamation of Indonesia Independence
Finally, the time has come and the Indonesia Independence was just right there to be acclaimed. The proclamation text would be read at 10 AM local time at the house of Soekarno which was already swarmed by Indonesian who wished to witness the historical moment.
Initially, the proclamation ceremony was about to be held at Monas field which was formerly known as Ikada field. However, Ir. Soekarno felt that the place was too huge and crowded, he feared that there was going to be a collision fuelled between Indonesian and Japan armies at such a massive space.
The ceremony was then begun upon the arrival of Ir. Soekarno and Hatta. The Indonesian flag was being waved with the assistance of S. Suhud and Shudanco Latief Hendraningrat. The mentioned flag was knitted by Fatmawati, spouse of Ir. Soekarno. The process was followed by the national anthem, Indonesia Raya.
7. The News of Indonesia Independence
The Domei press agency broadcasted the good news to the people all around Indonesia through a radio live. Grateful for this because without their merit, the proclamation held in Jakarta was going to be known only by a number of people.
Here came another trouble, when Japan heard about the news and cut all of the broadcasting process. Since then, the spread of Indonesia independence was banned by Japan. The radio transmitter of Domei press agency was disconnected by Japan. The office was then closed by Japan to the public as well as its people.
However, nothing is stopping there, all the people in Indonesia remained resolute. The young men then constructed a new transmitter by connecting all the existing transmitters at Domei office. The new one was then sent to Menteng and the broadcasted news resumed. The news of Indonesia Independence was not only spread out through radio, but also through newspapers and press releases.
Celebrate our Nation Independence
There are still so many historical moments other than the proclamation momentous we should have the knowledge about. They are endless as the grapple of our national heroes. So, let’s preserve their dedicated efforts and wear our Indonesian nationality as a badge of honour.
Happy Independence Day, Indonesia!
