Rudolf Supratman, a forgotten composer

Year after year, ever since the independence of the Republic of Indonesia was proclaimed urbi et orbi on Aug. 17, 1945, the Indonesia Raya, as the national anthem, has met and always meets its perpetual glory by being played and sung in state ceremonies or events at schools and public offices.

This year the Indonesia Raya greets its 55th anniversary, along with the anniversary of the Republic. Counting from its inception, when the song was first introduced in 1928, the Indonesia Raya celebrates its 72nd anniversary.

The grandeur of the song is felt when it is sung and listened to in ceremonies held abroad, as nostalgic memories of the country, its people, and its history arise in one's mind, in accompaniment to the song. To an Indonesian abroad, the Indonesia Raya is revered for its patriotic message, while its vigorous beat is always inspiring.

But when the national anthem is played in ceremonies or is sung by an audience, few would care to remember its composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman.

Born in Jatinegara (during the Dutch times this Batavian suburb was called Meester Cornelis), on March 9, 1903, Rudolf Supratman began his educational career at the elementary school of Budi Utomo at Cimahi, Bandung, where he finished his studies in 1914. He later moved to Makassar, where he finished teachers school in 1920 at the age of 17. He started his occupational career as a journalist at the Kaum Muda (Young Generation) daily in Bandung in 1924 and later moved to the Sin Po daily in Batavia (Jakarta) in 1925.

Three years later his name suddenly became famous as the composer of the song which later became the Indonesian national anthem. It is said that the song was introduced for the first time on Oct. 28, 1928 by Wage Rudolf Supratman during the closure of the Congress of the Indonesian Youth, which in Indonesian history became famous as the initiator of the Sumpah Pemuda (Indonesian Youth Pledge) which called for one state, one nation, and one national language, Bahasa Indonesia.

The congress took place in a building, at the time called Indonesische Clubgebow (Indonesian Club building) located at Jl. Kramat Raya 106, Batavia. Rudolf Supratman sang and played the tune on his violin, and it is said that the audience greeted the song jubilantly and shed tears.

Then, at the Volksraad (the People's Council) under the Dutch colonial reign, two prominent members of an Indonesian nationalist group, Moh. Husni Thamrin and Sukardjo Wirjopranoto, introduced a motion to the Dutch colonial government to have the song recognized and authorized to be sung in public. But the effort was futile.

During the Japanese occupation, when Bung Karno and Bung Hatta visited Tokyo on Nov. 16, 1943, the two leaders made an appeal to the then Prime Minister General Hideki Tojo to permit the Indonesia Raya to be sung in public. But not until Sept. 7, 1944, under the reign of the successor, Gen. Koiso, who officially announced the promise of independence, had the Indonesia Raya been permitted to be sung in public.

Now, when this story is told, and one listens to the solemn presentation of the national anthem with its glorious and vivid beat, it is strange that the name of the composer, Wage Rudolf Supratman is remembered no more. No city, neither Jatinegara, Cimahi, nor Surabaya, has a monument to commemorate the composer of the national anthem. Wage Rudolf Supratman died in Surabaya on Aug. 17, 1938.

S. SUHAEDI

Jakarta