Indonesian Independence Was in Sight from the Youth Pledge Declaration
Entering the building at 106 Jalan Kramat Raya, in Kwitang, Senen, Central Jakarta, visitors can immerse themselves in an historic event from 98 years ago, when young people from across the archipelago pledged allegiance to one homeland, one nation and one language.
The building, now preserved as the Youth Pledge Museum, houses various collections related to the event, which took place on the evening of Sunday, 28 October 1928.
Among them is the violin belonging to composer Wage Rudolf Soepratman, which he used to perform Indonesia’s national anthem for the first time, shortly before the Youth Pledge was read aloud. His violin playing, at times accompanied by his rather hoarse voice, was enthusiastically received by around 300 young people, most of them in their twenties.
The slender Soepratman received congratulations and embraces from the audience, his eyes glistening with tears. The emergence of young people in the national movement at the time was one consequence of the Ethical Policy introduced by the colonial government in the early 20th century.
The Dutch were compelled to adopt the Ethical Policy in response to fierce criticism over their extreme brutality in the colony. This included the forced cultivation system, which caused millions of Indonesians to suffer and thousands to die.
Under the policy, the Dutch gave Indonesians the opportunity to pursue an education. As a result, many young people from different regions travelled to Batavia to study.
At the time, outside Java, schools such as MULO could be counted on one hand. MULO was only equivalent to a lower secondary school. South and South-east Sulawesi, for example, had just one MULO, in Makassar.
In Batavia, these student youths felt that they shared the same fate and struggle. They went on to establish regional youth organisations, including Jong Java, Jong Sumatranen Bond, Jong Minahasa, Jong Celebes, Jong Ambon, Jong Bataks Bond, Jong Timoreesch Bond, Sekar Rukun (a youth and student organisation from Sunda) and Pemuda Kaum Betawi. The last two groups rejected the word ‘jong’ because they considered it to have colonial connotations.
Jong Islamieten Bond was also established two years before the Youth Pledge. This Islamic youth organisation was prompted in large part by the activities of the political party Sarekat Islam (PSI).
The young people then held the Youth Congress, which also aimed to bring youth organisations together under one umbrella. The congress took place from 30 April to 2 May 1926.