Identity Politics of Indonesia-ness
The poem was made as an expression of love for his homeland, namely Sumatra, when Yamin had to fulfill his duties as an overseas child who had to leave his hometown to study in Java.
At the border, Bukit Barisan
Looking to the beach, the beautiful bay
Beholds the water, the water of everything
That's the sea, the Indian Ocean
You see the waves, the waves of various
Breaking into the sand and crashing
He squealed, wishing
O Andalas, the island of Sumatra,
Make your name known, south north!
The above lines are part of Muhammad Yamin's poem entitled "Tanah Air" (Motherland), which was published in 1920 when he was 17 years old.
The three-verse poem was published in the magazine Jong Sumatra. The poem was later completed as a collection of poems in a booklet entitled “Tanah Air”, which was dedicated to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Jong Sumatranen Bond.
The poem was made as an expression of love for his homeland, namely Sumatra, when Yamin had to fulfill his duties as an overseas child who had to leave his hometown to study in Java. “Motherland” as a phrase introduced by Muh Yamin is just a beautiful poem; it became a new genre in poetry writing at that time.
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> Youth Pledge and Spirit of National Unity
Meanwhile, in another place, RM Noto Soeroto and his friends founded the Indische Vereeniging organization (1908). Based on inputs from several figures, including Iwa Koesoemasoemantri, Moh Hatta and Nazir Pamoentjak, it was later changed to the Indonesian Association (1925).
To convey the message of independence, they published the magazine Indonesia Merdeka (1924) with a bold and radical slogan, "Indonesia is Merdeka Now". Since then, “Indonesia”, which was originally the name of a region and ethnic group, has become a political and cultural ideal that must be fought for.
The desire to unite continued and culminated in the Youth Pledge, on 28 October 1928.
In that same atmosphere, at home, young people continue to work in an effort to unite the scattered energy in various youth organizations that carry certain ideological, religious and ethnic themes. The desire to unite continued and culminated in the Youth Pledge, on 28 October 1928.
The Youth Pledge, which was attended by youth groups from various ethnic groups, regions and religious organizations, is a model of inclusivity that unites religious and nationalist groups. They come with one desire, to express ideals of unity: one homeland, nation and language that is Indonesia. Thus, the homeland of Indonesia has become a political force that must be fought for and achieved.
The period of 1920-1930 saw an academic ideological debate about a nation. The thinkers put forth their ideas in a fairly dynamic debate. For example, Sukarno wrote in the newspaper Pemandangan (Scene), Moh Hatta in the newspaper Daulat Ra'jat, Abdul Rivai in Bintang Indies, Marco Kartodikromo and friends in Medan Prijaji and so on. They debated whether cultural, regional or religious nationalists were championed, or whether they were willing to cooperate or not cooperate with the Dutch.
All of the scholars, who are still few in number, continue to struggle with their thoughts and ideas to design the Indonesia of the future. It turns out that youths are aware that between cultural nationalists and religious nationalists they must unite in the struggle for independence. Awareness about the style of inclusivity that crosses religious, cultural and regional boundaries has become important. Inclusivity in thought and action has become a social capital in uniting the various forces that exist throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
The Youth Pledge became an important milestone in the effort to unite various new ideas and ideas in the struggle of intellectual and critical thinking at that time.
The shared aspirations for the Indonesian homeland have also been able to cross the boundaries of connectivity between groups and regions. The very limited connectivity network, including land, sea and communication networks, was able to be combined in the march of struggle. The Youth Pledge became an important milestone in the effort to unite various new ideas and ideas in the struggle of intellectual and critical thinking at that time.
It was in this hopeful atmosphere that WR Supratman closed a meeting by singing a song he composed with the title "Indonesia". With a keroncong format and violin accompaniment by Nicolo Amati, the song is sung without text. The Youth Pledge and the song "Indonesia" (read: Indonesia Raya) have become a new mantra in uniting all elements of the nation to fight colonialism in a more structured and planned manner, no longer being regional in nature, which turns out to be a continuous failure.
Indonesia as a cultural commitment
The process of having one homeland and one nation, Indonesia, continues, and the culmination is the independence of Indonesia.
When Sukarno-Hatta proclaimed Indonesia, Indonesia as a political commitment was finished. It is proven, with various obstacles, both from within and outside the country, that Indonesia has still been able to stand strong until now. Today, however, the challenges are far more complex.
It has become destiny, because of its location, which is the trajectory of various cultures, religions and trades, that Indonesia has hundreds of islands, languages and cultures. It is a challenge and an opportunity. Thus, Indonesia, apart from being a political commitment, also implies a cultural commitment. We still often hear of restrictions on the expression of different groups, in the name of differences in religion, belief, ethnicity or culture. The efforts to build an inclusive and sustainable Indonesia need to be continuously discussed and narrated.
In today's developments, the four pillars must work together and not be separated.
Arnold Toynbee in his book A Study of History (1947) states, there are four layers in building civilization. The outermost ones are the pillar of science and technology, the pillar of aesthetics, the pillar of moral ethics and the pillar of spirituality. In his analysis, Toynbee said that the three outer pillars -- however strong -- without a good spiritual foundation, will collapse. In today's developments, the four pillars must work together and not be separated.
As a large nation with a sufficiently high culture to be able to influence global civilization, Indonesia must develop technology, science and aesthetics; but it must be based on strong religious values and high moral ethics.
Development that only pursues high achievements in the fields of science and technology, but does not take into account natural ecosystems, culture and other supporting infrastructure, will only result in conflict and poverty in the future. For this reason, inclusive and sustainable development, by taking into account the culture of the people, will ensure a better future.
Identity politics and national awareness
We will organize the 2024 “fiesta of democracy” soon. Various preparations to realize it have also been prepared. In contestations, not infrequently, to mobilize votes, identity politics is used.
Issues of differences in race, ethnicity, religion and belief are commonly raised and used to build power. Some political elites use identity politics to bring down political opponents. The practice of using identity politics has long been employed in every general election event.
This condition is feared to be able to divide the unity and integrity of the nation.
In the 1955 general election, identity politics was also used to mobilize the masses. Identity politics is used in elite political communication until it reaches the subconscious of its supporters. Propaganda in political communication often creates sharper segregation in people's lives, and can even lead to social conflict. This condition is feared to be able to divide the unity and integrity of the nation.
In today's political developments, people often forget that the homeland of Indonesia was born out of a political contract to unite existing differences into the framework of a single homeland, namely Indonesia.
As stated by (the late) Buya Syafii Maarif, identity politics will not endanger the integrity of the nation and state if we return to our future goals, which are the ideals of the founding fathers of the nation to unite the homeland and the nation in national integration.
The ideals are based on the spirit of the Youth Pledge, which has fused the sentiments of ethnicity, religion and race, and became Pancasila as the basis of every step taken in behavior and action in everyday life, with a full sense of responsibility.
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Restu Gunawan
Restu Gunawan, Director of Cultural Development and Utilization, Education and Culture Ministry
(This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswo).
