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The
National Anthem
The
national anthem is "Indonesia Raya," which
means Great Indonesia. The song was composed
in 1928. The colonial policy of the day
was "divide and rule." It was a policy that
deliberately aggravated language, ethnic,
cultural and religious differences amongst
the people.
The
birth of Indonesia Raya marked the beginning
of Indonesian nationalist movements. The
song was first introduced by its composer,
Wage Rudolf Supratman, at the second All
Indonesian Youth Congress on October 28,
1928 in Batavia, now Jakarta. It was the
moment when Indonesian youth of different
ethnic, language, religious and cultural
backgrounds resolutely pledged allegiance
to:
- One
native land, Indonesia;
- One
nation, the Indonesian nation;
- One
unifying language, the Indonesian language.
Soon
the national song, which called for the
unity of Indonesia, became popular. It was
echoed at Indonesian political rallies,
where people stood in solemn observance.
The song seriously aroused national consciousness
among the people throughout the archipelago.
