Nation's heroes aren't revered like they used to be

Nation's heroes aren't revered like they used to be

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Time and again Indonesians are reminded that a great nation is one that holds its heroes in great respect. It is therefore ironic that within less than six decades of independence, many younger-generation Indonesians seem to be less aware of their founding fathers and heroes.

This is despite the fact that they encounter the names of the nation's heroes daily, in street names and monuments. But, how many young people know why, for example, a street in the upmarket Kebayoran Baru area of South Jakarta is known as "Sisingamangaraja"? Who was Sisingamangaraja and what did he do for the country to have received the honor of being immortalized by a street name?

This is a question young Indonesians must answer as they celebrate the country's 57th anniversary of independence. It is usually a day when the nation takes a brief moment to look back and ponder crucial issues such as the historical events that have taken them to the Indonesia of today, and in what direction past historical events and today's occurrences will bring them.

The question is, why such a lack of awareness? Why is the young generation unable to name the heroes, let alone appreciate what they had done for their country and people?

Take a look at Sumiati, 18. She was standing beside a two- wheel cart laden with bottled drinks the night we interviewed her near the National Monument (Monas) Park in the heart of the city. Standing beside her was Hamim, 13.

Both come from Madura, a barren island in East Java province. They live in a rented house for Madurese in Kwitang, some two kilometers southeast of the monument and, like most Madurese, keep very much to themselves.

Sumiati was tight-lipped when asked if she knew the name of the national leaders who had proclaimed Indonesia's independence on Aug. 17, 1945. Her friend Hamim was silent, too. Sumiati has only been educated to elementary level and Hamim never had any formal education.

Unlike the two teenagers, street singer Ramadhani, 22, has a better awareness of national heroes. Maybe it's because Ramadhani had a better education: He is a high school graduate.

Ramadhani could recall the name of several heroes, including Husni Thamrin, Cut Nyak Dien, Teuku Cik Ditiro, Sudirman, Mohammad Hatta and Sukarno.

Youths with higher education have a better awareness of national heroes.

Rico Perdana Putra, 21, who is studying at the University of Indonesia (UI), said that although he did not specifically study national history he was able to name some heroes.

"I don't know exactly who the founding fathers were. I guess Sukarno, Mohammad Hatta, Mohammad Natsir, Mohammad Roem, Wahidin Sudirohusodo," he said.

Aviva Nababan, 22, an activist from a non-governmental organization, acknowledged that she did not really know the names of leaders who gave birth to this nation. However, she said that they came from diverse backgrounds and decided to unite, despite their ethnicity.

The consensus to choose Bahasa Indonesia as the nation's language instead of picking one of the ethnic languages, she said, meant that they wanted to maintain the nation's multiethnic character.

Swastika, 24, who works at a television station, said she was familiar with the process that led to Indonesia becoming a free nation. She cited the establishment of the Budi Utomo organization in 1928 as a milestone in the people's struggle for independence.

She also named several figures who played an important role in the proclamation of independence in 1945, including Rajiman, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta.

"What they did was really tough and hard, but then again, I see our independence as the political legacy of our founding fathers," she said without elaboration.

However, remembering the names of national heroes does not necessarily mean understanding the essence of the nation's struggle for independence.

Although many of the older generation may worry about the attitude of their offspring on this issue, anthropologist Yunita T. Winarto dismiss the concern as groundless.

Memorizing the names of heroes has nothing to do with a sense of nationalism, but rather a matter of education.

"Although they (the young generation) may have little awareness of national history, this does not necessarily mean that they have lost their sense of nationalism," Yunita said.