Saturday, May 18, 2013

Discussion Text: Is Budi Utomo The Symbol of Revival in Indonesia?



Ing ngarso sung tulodo
Ing madya mangun karso
Tut wuri handayani
Giving model from the front
Giving spirit from the middle
Giving support from behind 

The National Revival Day is never separated from the role of national pioneers. The pioneers make their spirit as motivation for the progress of Indonesia. An example of pioneer institution in Indonesia is Budi Utomo which was established on 20 May 1908. Budi Utomo was also known as symbol of revival in Indonesia. I agree with the opinion because Budi Utomo is the first organization motivating the people to go ahead and to free from the colonialism. National Revival Day is a day which is celebrated in Indonesia every 20 May to remember the struggle and spirit of Indonesian people in getting the freedom. This day has been celebrated in Indonesia more than one century. In fact, there are different opinions from some experts about when the National Revival day should be celebrated. This essay will discuss about the pros and cons of Budi Utomo considered as the symbol of revival.
From the primary school, we have studied the independence of Indonesia. Of course, we have known much about Budi Utomo as an organization which was considered as a pioneer in the movement of Indonesian young people to raise the spirit of nationalism and to increase the strong self-esteem in Indonesian society. The rising of Budi Utomo on 20 May 1908 was assumed as a cause of big change to young people to think critically and to free Indonesia from the colonialism. Budi Utomo moves in social, culture, economy, and politic area. This movement brought a brighter thought to be free and not to be a slave of colonialism. From the spirit of Budi Utomo, there were many politic parties in Indonesia, such as PNI, PKI, Partindo, PIR, etc (Wijaya, 2012).
The most struggle of Budi Utomo was in politic area, especially when World War happened. Budi Utomo had a program named Bumiputera. This program required every man to do military service to protect the nation. Budi Utomo was also opened for the society because the movement organization is very important for them. This condition is evidenced by the workers strike to demand a better life (Wijaya, 2012).
Moreover, Budi Utomo was finally opened for all of Indonesian people. Budi Utomo changed their objective from increasing Javanese and Madura culture becomes realizing the independent of Indonesia. Budi Utomo had developed become an organization with tending of nationalism. Because of its contribution on 20 May, known as the rising of Budi Utomo, is celebrated by every Indonesian as National Revival Day every year (Wita, 2012).
However, in the middle of our amazement about Budi Utomo, there are some experts who didn’t agree if the National Revival Day is celebrated on 20 May. This phenomenon occurred because of the establishment of Budi Utomo in 1908 known not as the first organization. Sarekat Islam which was the first organization established in 1906 should be a symbol of National Revival Day. Except this organization is prominent in religion side but it has vision to make the independence of Indonesia. Sarekat Islam is also regarded as an organization which had big role in order to make a progress in Indonesia. The objectives of Sarekat Islam in building the brotherhood, friendship, and mutual assistance among the societies, and increasing people’s economy are considered more nationalism than Budi Utomo (Wita, 2012).
Furthermore, the objective of Budi Utomo also gets critique from many people. Their protest was about the objective in increasing Javanese and Madura culture. This objective doesn’t have relation to unify the nation because it differentiates Java and Madura with other cultures and we have known clearly that Indonesia has many tribes and cultures. So, Java and Madura are not only the main priorities but also every tribe in Indonesia (Wita, 2012).
In addition, many people claimed that Budi Utomo did not increasing nationalism. This opinion appeared because of the cooperation between Budi Utomo with the Netherlands colonial. This claim was also based on structure of Budi Utomo which has Netherlands colonial inside. Compared with the spirit nationalism, many people assumed that Budi Utomo supported the colonialism (Wita, 2012).
Another reason about this critique is about the progress of Budi Utomo. It went down and lost by the other new organizations. The new organization seems more advanced than Budi Utomo. This setback make some people disagree if Budi Utomo becomes a symbol of revival.
From the explanation above, we can conclude that Budi Utomo is the organization which is proper as the symbol of the revival in Indonesia because Budi Utomo, behind its shortage, has shown us about spirit to free. But, Budi Utomo also should not be a symbol of revival because the other organizations are more meritorious than Budi Utomo. As a writer, I would like to recommend that we should not have to debate about when the National revival Day should be celebrated or what organization is proper as symbol of the revival itself. We just have to keep the spirit of Budi Utomo and the other movement organization in our heart to advance our country, Republic of Indonesia.

References:
Wijaya, A. (2012, 8 May). Sejarah organisasi pergerakan nasional Biudi Utomo [Personal blog]. Retrieved from http://iwak-pithik.blogspot.com/2012/05/sejarah-organisasi-pergerakan-nasional.html.
Wita, G. (2012, 13 April).Di balik layar HARKITNAS [Website blog]. Retrieved from http://sosbud.kompasiana.com/2012/04/13/dibalik-layar-harkitnas/.

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