WR Soepratman Family Corrects Historical Facts Before DKI Scout Leaders

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The chairman of the WR Soepratman Foundation in Meester Cornelis Jatinegara, Dario Turk, has clarified the history of the creator of the song Indonesia Raya, WR Soepratman, before Scout leaders in DKI Jakarta.

“We need to correct the history of WR Soepratman,” said Dario in Jakarta on Thursday, in front of hundreds of Scout leaders in DKI Jakarta.

According to him, information circulating both online and in history books regarding WR Soepratman contains errors, including his birthplace, life, and death as the creator of Indonesia Raya.

Dario, who is also the son-in-law of Ngadini Soepratini, the biological sister of the composer and National Hero Wage Rudolf Soepratman, explained that WR Soepratman’s birthplace was not in Somongari Village, Kaligesing, Purworejo, Central Java.

He explained that WR Soepratman was born in Jatinegara, Jakarta, on 9 March 1903, and this history has already begun to be corrected and must be corrected, because his birth was indeed not in Purworejo.

In addition, WR Soepratman never married anyone, although Dario noted that someone claimed to be his wife, but after investigation with all relatives, it was not true.

“The story that he died of a broken heart due to rejected love is a myth. The cause of death was illness with symptoms of tuberculosis/lung disease,” he said.

Dario hopes that future generations of the nation can know the correct history regarding the creator of Indonesia Raya.

He also hopes that the revision of WR Soepratman’s history can be included in the Indonesian History Encyclopaedia, which is currently being compiled.

“We are also working to create a digital archive based on primary sources related to the works of that National Hero,” he added.