The Grave of Cut Nyak Dien

1. The History

The Malays` historical graves usually lay on Malay lands. The grave of Cut Nyak Dien nonetheless located in Sumedang city, West Java, Indonesia. A question should then be raised is how can it happen? Cut Nyak Dien was the hero of Aceh who fought the Dutch colonialist in the region. She was once captured by the colonialist and sent into exile in West Java, the place where she passed her last times, died and buried. Therefore, her grave up to this day lays in that region.

Speaking about Cut Nyak Dien can not be separated with her struggle against the colonialist in Indonesia. Aceh was the region where she began to lead the Acehneses in fighting the colonialist. She was Teuku Umar`s wife, an Indonesian national hero. Together with her husband, she armed herself with some weapons in front of the colonialist. And consistently she led the Acehneses to the war, although Teuku Umar had been finally murdered by the enemy. On November 6, 1905, she was arrested and tortured sadistically that made her blindness. In the same year, the colonialist sent her into exile in Sumedang, West Java.

During in the exile, Cut Nyak Dien, suggested by the regent of the city (Suria Adireja), lived with Kiai Haji and Hajjah Solehah. And in order to guarantee her safety from the wildness of the colonialist, the regent advised her to change her name as Nyi Prabu. Her last ages in Sumedang were dedicated to teach Arabic classic books to local people. Due to this, Cut Nyak Dien was titled Ibu Prabu dari Seberang, which means the blind woman ulama whose energy was forced to teach and read the Islamic holy book. After three years living in the exile, Cut Nyak Dien`s health dropped gradually. In 58 of her age, she passed away on November 6, 1908 at Nyai Solehah`s house.

It is thought that the house sat behind Sumedang Grand Mosque that still stands firmly up to this day. It was in Kampung Kaum, Regol Wetan Village, in sub district of Sumedang Selatan. Meanwhile, the grave of Cut Nyak Dien lays on the donated land of her student, namely Husna.

The grave was firstly preserved by her another student, Ian. And after that, the task known as juru kunci, was held by Ian`s son, namely Encin. In 1959, Jaja Sunarya was the next juru kunci of the grave. Jaja`s dedication had forced Prof. Dr. Ali Hasjmi, the historian, to award him. Today the juru kunci posisition is occupied by Nana Sukmana.

At the very beginning, the grave structure was so humble because it placed in the family grave in Astana Gunung Puyuh. In the meantime, no one knew that it was the grave of a grate person regarded as an Indonesian national hero. Only after 1959 when the Aceh Governor ordered to seek the grave of Cut Nyak Dien, the people recognized it as hers. In 1987, the grave was renovated by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Hasan, the Aceh Governor at that time.

It is said that the grave is rarely sown with flowers, but, according to Nana Sukmana, its fragrant aroma always spread to the surrounding area. The same is told by those who have ever visited it. Every body recognizes Cut Nyak Dien as the hero, ulama and prominent figure of Indonesia, so that her grave is as aromatic as her name and her sacrifice for the nation.

The Acehneses, once demanded the local government to displace the grave to Nangroe Aceh Darussalam, Cut Nyak Dien`s home land. They planned to place her body beside her husband, Teuku Umar, to make it easily visited by the Acehneses. Some of Sumedang society including Nana Sumana and the family of Cut Nyak Dien`s students rejected the planning. Fortunately, the Aceh government officials had the same idea with the Sumedang society. Therefore until this day, the grave still lays in Sumedang city.

2. The Location

The grave of Cut Nyak Dien locates in grave complex of Siti Khodijah`s family, hundreds meters south side of Sumedang city, West Java, Indonesia. The grave complex is exactly beside the family grave complex of Sumedang Prince, in Kampung Gunung Puyuh, Suka Jaya Village, in sub district of Sumedang Selatan.

3. The Grave Description

a. Wide

The grave complex is 1.500 square meters in total, and Cut Nyak Dien`s grave is 4, 25 m x 3, 75 m.

b. The Ornamentation of Gravestone

A brief Cut Nyak Dien`s story of life and some Arabic writings such as the Qur`anic verses At-Taubah and Al-Fajr, and Hikayat Aceh (the story of Aceh) are written on the Gravestone.

4. Social Function

Until this day, the grave of Cut Nyak Dien is often visited by various level of society from various districts in Indonesia, including Aceh. Almost all officials of Aceh government have visited it. The Acehnese community (Kamaba) in Bandung, West Java, holds an annual religious ceremony, several days after Eid El-Fitr (an Islamic feast celebrated after the end of the fasting month of Ramadan), in the grave`s area. In addition, the Acehneses in Jakarta held another kind of religious ceremony in every November. Other people usually visit it in Sunday or in other national holidays.

Some visitors attend the religious ceremonies held in the grave`s area, and some enthusiastically reveal Cut Nyak Dien`s struggle and story of life. So many people visit the grave with various intentions and goals. Nevertheless, mystical purposes condemned by Islam are prohibited to be held within. (RI/trj/6/09-07)

Reference :

• Kompas, April 7, 2007 (www.kompas.com)
• Pikiran Rakyat, October 17, 2004 (www.pikiran-rakyat.com)
• www.sinarharapan.co.id      
  

Credit photo : www.serambinews.com

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