Once upon a time in the past there were some extraordinary
\nkids ...<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Along the course of Indonesia's history, there have been many
\nnoted figures who have made huge contribution towards the
\nbuilding of the nation, from leading the armed struggle against
\nthe colonial power to developing the country's good image.<\/p>\n
And they did not just suddenly grow up to become extraordinary
\npeople, but their childhoods indicated their amazing potential.<\/p>\n
One of the most noted figures in the country's history is Haji
\nAgus Salim. He made huge contribution when he struggled to gain
\nthe world's recognition of Indonesia's independence. The world
\nrecognized him as The Grand Old Man for his skills in diplomacy,
\npolitics and Islam.<\/p>\n
His high intellect was already evident as young as six years
\nold as a student at a school for European children in Riau. At
\nthe school, he had the highest grades in mathematics, history and
\nlanguage.<\/p>\n
"If people assume that I got good grades because I'm so smart,
\nthat's wrong. They think that way because they have never seen me
\nstudy at home. I feel bad if I don't study at home," said Salim
\nin his biography titled Seratus Tahun Haji Agus Salim (A hundred
\nyears of Haji Agus Salim).<\/p>\n
In junior high, he graduated as the most outstanding student,
\nsurpassing the European children in all subjects.<\/p>\n
His outstanding performance attracted Kartini's attention, who
\nwrote a letter to a Dutch high official requesting that Agus
\nSalim be sent to study in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
When he got the offer, he declined it,choosing to further his
\nstudy here in Indonesia. As a teenager, he had already mastered
\nDutch, English, French and German. Then few years after, he
\nbecame fluent in Arabic and Turkish languages.<\/p>\n
He translated Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and Hamlet
\ninto Indonesian during his youth.<\/p>\n
Another extraordinary figure is Sukarno, the man who
\nproclaimed the country's independence. J.D. Legge, the author of
\na Sukarno biography, wrote that Sukarno got reputation as a tough
\nguy as a child. He led other children in games and managed his
\nfriends activities.<\/p>\n
However, he was raised in a poor family.<\/p>\n
"So poor that we barely ate once a day," Sukarno said.<\/p>\n
The most important factor contributing to Sukarno's
\nachievements was his father, Sukemi, a provincial teacher and an
\nintellectual.<\/p>\n
Sukarno was given extra lessons at home by Sukemi to prepare
\nhis child to compete in a school full of Dutch students, a place
\nwhere in 28 years, only 279 Indonesian kids had graduated.<\/p>\n
At first, he was underestimated by his school mates because of
\nhis inability to speak Dutch. But after two years of study,
\nSukarno became fluent in the language. Later, still at young age,
\nhe could speak seven languages interchangeably.<\/p>\n
For Sukarno, inspiring stories were more important than
\nplaying outside the house.<\/p>\n
"I was weaned not on television or Wild West sagas but on
\nstories of nationalism and patriotism. I would sit at my mother's
\nfeet by the hour and drink in these exciting tales of the freedom
\nfighters in our family," Sukarno said in an biography authored by
\nCindy Adams.<\/p>\n
In the literary world, Indonesia once had H.B. Jassin, often
\nreferred to as the "Pope" of Indonesian literature, given his
\ndeep understanding about literature and his sharp analysis of
\nliterary products. He grew up as a talented child who did a lot
\nto develop his skills.<\/p>\n
Yassin had already published articles, essays, and works of
\nfiction when he was still a teenager. He was the author of dozens
\nof literary books and translated many foreign novels, such as
\nMultatuli's Max Havelaar, and Antoine de St. Exupery's Vol de
\nNuit.<\/p>\n
"My childhood was the most pleasant time I'd ever had. My life
\nwas influenced by my father who is an ample reader and owned a
\nprivate library," he said, as quoted in a book titled H.B.
\nJassin, Paus Sastra Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In the book, he recalled how at one time he fell sick and his
\nfather tried to entertain him by asking, "What do you want me to
\nbuy?"<\/p>\n
"Books," Yassin said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/once-upon-a-time-in-the-past-there-were-some-extraordinary-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }