- Bung Tomo
Sutomo (
October 3 ,1920 -October 7 ,1981 ),cite journal
last =Frederick | first =William H. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =In Memoriam: Sutomo | journal =Indonesia | volume =33 | issue = | pages =127–128 | publisher =Cornell University outheast Asia Program | date =April 1982 | url =http://cip.cornell.edu/Dienst/UI/1.0/Summarize/seap.indo/1107016901 | doi = | id =seap.indo/1107016901 | accessdate = ] also known as Bung Tomo, is best known for his role as an Indonesian military leader during theIndonesian National Revolution against theNetherlands . He played a central role inBattle of Surabaya when the British attacked the city in October and November 1945.Early life
Sutomo was born in Kampung Blauran in the center of
Surabaya to a clerk father, Kartawan Tjiptowidjojo, and mother of mixed Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese descent. He was forced to give up his education at the age of twelve because of family economic hardship during theGreat Depression . Alongside menial jobs, he joined the Indonesian Scouting organisation and at the age of seventeen as the secondPramuka Garuda ; a rank achieved by only three Indonesians before the Japanese occupation duringWorld War II .Indonesian National Revolution
During the Japanese occupation, Sutomo was chosen in 1944 as a member of the Japanese-sponsored "Gerakan Rakyat Baru" (New People's Movement). During the early stages of the
Indonesian National Revolution he played a central role when Surabaya came under British attack. Although the city was lost to the Dutch's European allies, the battle served to galvanise Indonesian and international opinion in support of the independence cause. Sutomo spurred thousands of Indonesians to action with his distinctive, emotional speaking-style of his radio broadcasts. His "clear, burning eyes, that penetrating, slightly nasal voice, or that hair-raising oratorical style that second only to Sukarno's in its emotional power"."Hey Britain, as long as the wild ox, the youth of Indonesia, still have red blood that can make a white cloth red and white... as long as that we will not surrender. Friends, fellow fighters... especially the youth of Indonesia, we will fight on, will will expel the colonialists from our Indonesian land that we love... Long have we suffered, been exploited, trampled on. Now is the time for us to seize our independence. Our slogan: FREEDOM OR DEATH. GOD IS GREAT... GOD IS GREAT... GOD IS GREAT.. FREEDOM!"
Bung Tomo's radio speech, 9 November 1945.cite book | last = Soetomo | first = SUlistina | title = Bung Tomo, Suamiku ("Bung Tomo, my Husband") | publisher = Pustaka Sinar Harapan | date = 1995 | isbn = 979-416-313-9 ]
Post independence
His relationship with President
Sukarno soured after Bung Tomo offended the president by asking about personal matters.Citation | Wahyudi | first=M Zaid | newspaper=Kompas | pages=1 & 15 | year=2007 | date=10 November] Post 1950s, Sutomo emerged again as a national figure during the 1965 turbulent period. Initially, he supportedSuharto to replace the left-leaningSukarno government, but later opposed aspects of theNew Order regime. OnApril 11 ,1978 , he was detained by the government for his outspoken criticism of corruption and abuses of power; upon his release five years later, however, Sutomo continued to loudly voice his criticisms. He said that he did not want to be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery because it was full of "fairweather heroes" who had lacked the courage to defend the nation at times of crisis, but when peace came appeared in public to glorify their achievements.Personal life
On
9 June 1947 , Sutomo married Sulistina inMalang ,East Java . He was known as a devoutly religious father of five who took knowledge seriously throughout his life. Before his death, Sutomo managed to finish a draft of his own dissertation on the role of religion in village-level development. OnOctober 7 ,1981 , he died inMecca ,Saudi Arabia , during his Hajj pilgrimage. Renowned as a 1945 Revolution hero, his family and friends succeeded in their request for his body to be returned to Indonesia, but although his reputation and military rank gave him the right to be buried in the Heroes' Cemetery, he was laid to rest in public burial ground at Ngagel, East Java.ee also
*
Battle of Surabaya
*Indonesian National Revolution
*History of Indonesia References
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