‘Indonesia Raya’ Movement Fuels Enthusiasm to Rise Up

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Abdi Dalem Musikan plays a number of national songs at the Mandalasana Ward during the commemoration of National Awakening Day at the Yogyakarta Palace, Yogyakarta, Thursday (20/5/2021). This activity is part of the launching of the Indonesia Raya Bergema movement to raise the spirit of nationalism in society. In this movement, the Indonesia Raya song is played every day in various public places in Yogyakarta.

The commemoration of National Awakening Day on Thursday (20/5/2021) became an opportunity for the people in Yogyakarta to raise their enthusiasm for the nation. Starting that day, every day at 10 a.m., the national anthem ‘Indonesia Raya’ echoed in public spaces in Yogyakarta.

Sariman, 69, stood at attention in one corner of Beringharjo Market in Yogyakarta on Thursday (20/5/2021) morning. He looked straight ahead. When the music came out from the loudspeaker, he sang the national anthem “Indonesia Raya” with other traders and market visitors.

In the middle of the song, his eyes started to fill with tears. He could not hold back the emotion because the song “Indonesia Raya” reminded him of his late wife who died many years ago. Sariman\'s wife worked as an elementary school teacher in South Lampung, Lampung Province.

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"At that time, we moved to Lampung. My wife worked as a non-permanent elementary school teacher and I often took her to school. When there was a flag ceremony at school, the song ‘Indonesia Raya’ was always played," said the street vendor, who sells jewelry and accessories at Beringharjo Market.

The singing of the Indonesian anthem was part of the launch of the Indonesia Raya Reverberation Movement, which was initiated by the Yogyakarta People’s Forum for Indonesia (For You Indonesia). The movement was established by a number of social activists, artists and lecturers.

Through this movement, For You Indonesia wants to invite businesses and local institutions to play the song “Indonesia Raya” every day in public spaces, for example in government and private offices, schools, markets, malls and tourist attractions. The movement was supported by the Yogyakarta government. In fact, the movement was officially launched by the Yogyakarta governor, Hamengkubuwono X.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

A number of visitors get ready to watch Abdi Dalem Musikan play the Indonesia Raya national anthem during the commemoration of National Awakening Day at the Yogyakarta Palace, Yogyakarta, Thursday (20/5/2021).

The launch was broadcast online from several locations, namely the Yogyakarta governor\'s office, the Yogyakarta Palace, the Pakualaman Kadipaten office, Beringharjo Market, the Atma Jaya Yogya University and SMA 1 state high school in Pakem, Sleman regency.

"I invite all the people of Yogyakarta to take part in the ‘Indonesia Raya’ movement. Like serangan umum [general offensive strike against Dutch soldiers] in early 1949, a sudden attack that inspired the spirit of nationality, which lived on in the hearts of the people," said Hamengkubuwono X, who is also the Yogyakarta sultan.

In a circular issued on May 18, the governor asked all parties to play the song "Indonesia Raya" at 10 a.m. every day when starting their activities. Everyone who is present when the song "Indonesia Raya" is played must stand at attention.

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The circular was issued to a number of parties, namely regents and mayors in Yogyakarta, representatives of central government agencies in Yogyakarta, heads of regional organizations, heads of state-owned enterprises and region-owned enterprises, and leaders of private companies.

For You Indonesia representative Widihasto Wasana Putra said the Indonesia Raya Reverberation Movement aimed to increase a sense of nationalism and unity and integrity in society.

"This movement is very easy to follow and free of charge because it only plays a song. However, its essence is really strong because it reminds us that we are one nation even though we have different ethnicities,” he said.

The Beringharjo Market was chosen as one of the locations to encourage this movement to become a symbol for community activity at the grass roots.

"Beringharjo Market is the oldest market [in Yogyakarta] and has become an icon of the city. This market is also a representation of society because the dynamics of the populist economy is there," he said.

This movement is very easy to follow and free of charge because it only plays a song.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Diorama of the atmosphere of the STOVIA medical school teacher room which is currently the National Awakening Museum in Senen, Jakarta, Thursday (20/5/2018). In that place on May 20, 1908, the Boedi Oetomo organization was established which is currently celebrated as National Awakening Day.

Rising from the pandemic

In the city of Semarang, Central Java, the song "Indonesia Raya" has also been played in a number of public spaces such as around Pancasila square, Simpang Lima Semarang. On Thursday at 10 a.m., a number of traffic police stopped vehicles passing in the area.

A moment later, "Indonesia Raya" echoed over the loudspeaker. The police and a number of residents stood up and joined in singing or listening to the song. After the song ended, the police invited car and motorcycle drivers to continue their journey. Traffic returned to normal.

Baihaqi, 37, a resident of the Banyumanik subdistrict, Semarang, was passing by when the song was heard.

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"Indeed, I saw on social media the invitation to sing ‘Indonesia Raya’. I don\'t think it\'s a problem, it\'s actually positive. What I really hope at present is everything will soon return to normal [from the pandemic],” he said.

Harni, 50, a clothing trader at Beringharjo Market, also shared Baihaqi’s opinion. He has no objection if "Indonesia Raya" is heard every day at the market. For him, playing the national anthem can actually make traders more motivated about facing the difficult situation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We hope that the coronavirus will disappear soon and the economy will return to how it used to be.

"This actually makes us more motivated and not think about the coronavirus all the time. We hope that the coronavirus will disappear soon and the economy will return to how it used to be," said Harni, who has been selling at Beringharjo Market for 25 years.

Hopefully, the “Indonesia Raya" movement that has emerged from Yogyakarta and Central Java will also inspire other regions and ignite the spirit to rise from the pandemic.

This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.