Once upon a time in the past there were some extraordinary
Once upon a time in the past there were some extraordinary
kids ...
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Along the course of Indonesia's history, there have been many
noted figures who have made huge contribution towards the
building of the nation, from leading the armed struggle against
the colonial power to developing the country's good image.
And they did not just suddenly grow up to become extraordinary
people, but their childhoods indicated their amazing potential.
One of the most noted figures in the country's history is Haji
Agus Salim. He made huge contribution when he struggled to gain
the world's recognition of Indonesia's independence. The world
recognized him as The Grand Old Man for his skills in diplomacy,
politics and Islam.
His high intellect was already evident as young as six years
old as a student at a school for European children in Riau. At
the school, he had the highest grades in mathematics, history and
language.
"If people assume that I got good grades because I'm so smart,
that's wrong. They think that way because they have never seen me
study at home. I feel bad if I don't study at home," said Salim
in his biography titled Seratus Tahun Haji Agus Salim (A hundred
years of Haji Agus Salim).
In junior high, he graduated as the most outstanding student,
surpassing the European children in all subjects.
His outstanding performance attracted Kartini's attention, who
wrote a letter to a Dutch high official requesting that Agus
Salim be sent to study in the Netherlands.
When he got the offer, he declined it,choosing to further his
study here in Indonesia. As a teenager, he had already mastered
Dutch, English, French and German. Then few years after, he
became fluent in Arabic and Turkish languages.
He translated Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and Hamlet
into Indonesian during his youth.
Another extraordinary figure is Sukarno, the man who
proclaimed the country's independence. J.D. Legge, the author of
a Sukarno biography, wrote that Sukarno got reputation as a tough
guy as a child. He led other children in games and managed his
friends activities.
However, he was raised in a poor family.
"So poor that we barely ate once a day," Sukarno said.
The most important factor contributing to Sukarno's
achievements was his father, Sukemi, a provincial teacher and an
intellectual.
Sukarno was given extra lessons at home by Sukemi to prepare
his child to compete in a school full of Dutch students, a place
where in 28 years, only 279 Indonesian kids had graduated.
At first, he was underestimated by his school mates because of
his inability to speak Dutch. But after two years of study,
Sukarno became fluent in the language. Later, still at young age,
he could speak seven languages interchangeably.
For Sukarno, inspiring stories were more important than
playing outside the house.
"I was weaned not on television or Wild West sagas but on
stories of nationalism and patriotism. I would sit at my mother's
feet by the hour and drink in these exciting tales of the freedom
fighters in our family," Sukarno said in an biography authored by
Cindy Adams.
In the literary world, Indonesia once had H.B. Jassin, often
referred to as the "Pope" of Indonesian literature, given his
deep understanding about literature and his sharp analysis of
literary products. He grew up as a talented child who did a lot
to develop his skills.
Yassin had already published articles, essays, and works of
fiction when he was still a teenager. He was the author of dozens
of literary books and translated many foreign novels, such as
Multatuli's Max Havelaar, and Antoine de St. Exupery's Vol de
Nuit.
"My childhood was the most pleasant time I'd ever had. My life
was influenced by my father who is an ample reader and owned a
private library," he said, as quoted in a book titled H.B.
Jassin, Paus Sastra Indonesia.
In the book, he recalled how at one time he fell sick and his
father tried to entertain him by asking, "What do you want me to
buy?"
"Books," Yassin said.