Muhammad Hatta

1. Biography

Together with Sukarno, Muhammad Hatta was one of two major political figures who proclaimed the independence of Indonesia. Born in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra on August 12, 1902 into a prominent and strongly Islamic family. His nickname was Muhammad `Ata (referred to Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abdul Karim ibn `Ataillah al-Sakandari, an Islamic prominent figure and the author of Hikam). He was grandson of a widely respected Ulama from Minangkabau, Syekh Abdurrahman who was more commonly known as Syekh Batuhampar. His mother, Saleha, came from a wealthy family of Bukittinggi. Hadji Muhammad Djamil, a mursyid who lead one of sufi brotherhood or tarekat in West Sumatra, was his father. Hatta was left behind by his father before his first birthday (eight months). Therefore, he, along with his six sisters, was raised by family of his mother. He was the youngest son in his family.     

After attending Sekolah Melayu (Elementary Level) of Bukttinggi, he continued his education in Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) in Padang from 1913 to 1916. When thirteen, he passed the exams of ELS entitling him to admission to Handel Middlebare School HMS (Senior Level). However, his mother suggested him to enroll first to Meer Uirgebreid Lagere School (MULO) in Padang. In seventeen, when he completed the study in MULO (1919), he went to Jakarta to attend HMS and graduated three years after. In September 1921, he became one of the students of Nedeland Handelshogeschool (School of Commerce) in Rotterdam, now changed to Erasmus Universiteit. Eleven years after, spending in Netherlands, he completed all courses required and passed the exams of handels economie (1923). In the late of 1925, he planned to earn doctoral degree. However, due to his immersion in political realm, he changed his major to law of state and administration.

In fact, his intensive involvement in social and political activities begun when he studied in MULO. Historically, beginning from 1916, several youth organizations mushroomed in Indonesia such as Jong Java , Jong Sumatranen Bond-where Hatta involved in and assumed the treasurer position (1916-1919)-, and Jong Minahasa. During his staying in Batavia, he occupied the same position (1920-1921). In Rotterdam (1922), besides his academic activities, he was engaged in Indische Vereniging, an Indonesian students association that refused to cooperate with Dutch authorities. Later on, it was changed into Indonesische Vereniging (Indonesian Association/ Perhimpunan Indonesia or PI).  By 1913, the coming of three important figures of Indische Partij (Suwardi Suryaningrat, Douwes Dekker, and Tjipto Mangunkusumo) to Netherlands heightened political nuance of PI. Staying longer in Netherlands, due to his extension of study duration, he was appointed as PI`s chairman on January 17, 1926 to 1930. Under his leadership, PI moved to political association and exerted its influence to see Indonesia through to independence.

Besides in PI, most of Hatta`s time was dedicated to the activities for gaining the Indonesian`s liberty. Several International congresses were attended to introduce Indonesia in the realm of International politic. In 1926, he was commissioned to lead delegation to the Congress of International Democracy for world peace in Bierville. He was also Indonesian delegate to the League against Imperialism in Brussels on February 15, 1927. Through the league, he developed friendship with Jawaharlal Nehru, an Indian nationalist. Hatta`s activities and writings in Majalah Indonesia Merdeka forced the Dutch to imprison him for nearly six months from September 23, 1927 to March 22, 1928. 

Upon returning to Indonesia in 1932, along with Sutan Syahrir, Hatta built up a political movement where he was once the leader of the organization. It was known as Partai Pendidikan Nasional  (Indonesian National Education Party) or PNI Baru (New PNI). Its major program was to conduct trainings for Indonesians. In addition, he contributed in Daulat Rakyat Magazine (1934-1935). For eleven months, he was arrested and imprisoned in Glodok Jail by Dutch in 1934. In the subsequent year, he was exiled to Boven Digoel, West Papua for nearly a year (1934-1935). Dutch transferred him to Banda Neira internment (1935-1942) and moved him to Sukabumi in 1942 before completely released on March 9, 1942. In total, he spent ten years of prison.  

Prolonging incarceration did not impede his involvement in political activities. In April 1942, Hatta assumed head of Advisory Body for Dai Nippon. He was also one of the leaders of Pusat Tenaga Rakyar or Putera and the member of Dokuritzu Zyunbi Tyoosakai or BPUPKI. On August 9, 1945, he was appointed as vice chairman of Panitia Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia-PPKI (Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence). His intensive involvement in political realm gained him greater prominence among the Indonesian nationalists and made him, alongside with Sukarno, as the proclamator of Indonesian Independence on August 17, 1945.

On August 18, 1945, Hatta was appointed, by acclamation, as the first Vice President of Indonesia. During his time in this top authority, he made several important measures concerning National laws. Through Maklumat Wakil Presiden (Vice Presidential Edict) No X October 16, 1945, he gave Komite Nasional Indonesia Pusat-KNIP (Indonesian National Central Committee) legislative powers, before Majlis Permusywaratan Rakyat-MPR (People`s Consultative Assembly) and Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat-DPR (People`s Representative Council) were established. He also, on November 1^st, 1945, issued Maklumat Politik (Political Edict) asserting Indonesia`s willingness to resolve the dispute with the Dutch through peace negotiation. On November 3^rd, He issued Maklumat Pemerintah (Government Edict) authorizing the formation of political partiers. Thereafter, established ten political parties: Majlis Syuro Muslimin Indonesia-Mayusmi (Consultative Council for Indonesian Moslems), Partai Komunis Indonesia-PKI (Indonesian Communist Party), Partai Buruh Indonesia-PBI (Indonesian Labor Party), Partai Rakyat Jelata (People Party), Partai Kristen Indonesia-Parkindo (Indonesian Christian Party), Partai Sosialis Indonesia-PSI (Indonesian Socialist Party), Partai Rakyat Sosialis-PRS (Socialist People Party), Partai Katholik Republik Indonesia-PKRI (Catholic Party of the Republic of Indonesia), Persatuan Rakyat Marhaen Indonesia-Permai (Indonesian Marhaenist People Alliance), and Partai Nasional Indonesia-PNI (Indonesian Nationalist Party).

As the leader of an independent country, Hatta sought international political supports worldwide. In July 1974, he went to India to meet Jawaharlal Nehru, his close friend, and Mahatma Ghandi, an Indian spiritual leader. In the trip, disguised as co-pilot with name Abdullah, he sneaked out of country (the pilot was Biju Patnaik). Nehru made promise to stand in Indonesia`s side, suggesting a resolution in United Nations to put sanction on the Dutch. Hatta also led the Indonesian delegation, in 1949, to Konferensi Meja Bundar-KMB (Round Table Conference) resulting in Dutch`s recognition toward Indonesia`s sovereignty. Subsequently, established Republik Indonesia Serikat-RIS (United States of Indonesia) where Hatta continued on the leadership as its Prime Minister. From January 29, 1948 to late December 1949, Hatta assumed three important positions simultaneously: Vice President, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Afterwards, he also became a minister of foreign affairs for nearly a year (December 1949 to August 1950).

Due to his disillusion with Sulkarno`s ideas, Hatta resigned from his position as Vice President on December 1^st, 1956. As the national prominent figure of Dwi Tunggal (Duumvirate), both Hatta and Sukarno were considered as the harmonious partners and, more often than not, critical of each other. Although they had different styles of governing, many agree that the style of difference complimented their talents perfectly. Some times, Hatta supported Sukarno while in some of other times, he opposed him strongly. The difference lay in their visions and approaches to governing Indonesia. In the view of Sukarno, the revolution was still on the process, whilst Hatta, conversely, suggested the priority should be on the people-centered economic development.   

For most of his time, Hatta was occupied in mounting academic life of Indonesians. During his time as vice president, he often delivered scientific lecturers in several universities in Indonesia. Beginning in December 1956, after his resignation, Hatta engrossed himself fully to the academic realm. He once became lecturer at Sekolah Staf Komando Angkatan Darat (Forces War College) in 1951-1961, and at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta in 1954-1959. He was also an associate professor of Hasanuddin University (1966-1971), and Padjajaran Bandung University (1967-1971). In several occasions, in 1969 and 1975, he became president advisor for corruption issue and chairman of Panitia Lima (Committee of five) for interpreting Pancasila respectively. 

He was awarded several honorary degrees from Universities in Indonesia. On November 27, 1956, Hatta, with his speech titled “Lampau dan Datang” (Past and Future), received honoris causa from Gadjah Mada University. Hasanuddin University and Indonesia University awarded him the same degree on economics and law respectively. In Padjajaran University Bandung, he was promoted as an associate professor on political economy.

Hatta`s intellectual precociousness, reflected in his writings, was evident when he was at HMS in Batavia. His first writing “Namaku Hindania” (my name is Hindania) was published in Majalah Jong Sumatra (Jong Sumatra Magazine). His subsequent writings were mostly about the development of Indonesia`s democracy. In 1960, he wrote “Demokrasi Kita” (Our Democracy) in Majalah Pandji Masyarakat. In his exile, he kept writing and reading lot of books. Interned in Tanah Merah, his devotion to academic realm was still alive as he wrote articles for newspaper Pemandangan. Shelves of book, which was sent from Batavia about 16 chests, loaded his house in Digoel. In addition, he still allocated some of his time, during his exile, to teach his friends such as economics, philosophy, history, and so on. When he was transferred to Bandaneira, in January 1936, he taught the people and children of Bandaneira history, library, politics and so on.

When forty three, he married Rahmi Rachim in November, 1945 in Megamendung village, Bogor, West Java. She bored him Meutia Farida, Gemala, and Halida Nuriah. He died in hospital of Dr Tjipto Mangunkusumo Jakarta on March 14, 1980 in 77 of his age. He was buried in funeral Tanah Kusir in the day that followed.

2. Thoughts

Hatta is considered as having broad scope of various disciplines ranging from nationalism, education, economics, philosophy, to constitutional law. However, this article attempts to shed some lights on merely two aspects of his thoughts: nationalism and people based economy. Both, often thought as the symbol of Hatta`s struggle, are his main views that predominantly shaped the character of Indonesia. Applying to his era, these views, which are interconnected, also contribute to the advancement of Indonesia in the future.  

a. Nationalism

Hatta was a figure who always stuck to the principles in which he believed. For the unity of Indonesia, he sacrificed personally his position, vice president, when he was in the apex of his career. He envisioned Indonesia a state that accommodates all group and social classes without any forms of discrimination. Academic background on economics and constitutional law guided him to play significant role in momentous event of shaping nation-state. In the formation of Undang-Undang Dasar 1945 (The Constitution of Indonesia), he was actively involved. In addition, he contributed substantially to the arrangement of Constitution of Republik Indonesia Serikat in 1949 and Undang-Undang Dasar Sementara-UUDS (The Temporary Constitution of Indonesia) in 1950.     

Hatta always exhibited resolute position when taking somewhat different approaches and opinions with Sukarno`s policies. Law and responsibility, as he insisted, were the main principles that should present in any systems of government. Therefore, Hatta disagreed with the president, Sukarno, when he installed himself as the inviolable cabinet formateur by which he solicited revolutionary support to deter his enemies. In Hatta`s view, democracy should be built on the principles of law, equity and responsibility. Sukarno on the other hand, as Hatta described, made democracy into real but took advantage of it simultaneously (contradictio in terminis).

It was he who introduced first the name of “Indonesia” in an article published by “De Socialist” in December 1928. His numerous writings reflected, in addition to his focus on democracy and human rights, his attachment to the people. To Hatta, education is of paramount importance for Indonesia to build its national character. He once ever said:

“Ilmu dapat dipelajari oleh segala orang yang cerdas dan tajam otaknya, tetapi manusia yang berkarakter tidak diperoleh begitu saja. Pangkal segala pendidikan karakter adalah cinta akan kebenaran dan berani mengatakan salah dalam menghadapi sesuatu yang tidak benar…”

(Science can be learned by smart people, but the strength of character requires more than learning. The main course of character is love toward truth and bravery to utter what is wrong)

b. People-centered Economy

Hatta`s opinions on the issue of nationalism, such as principles of democracy and pro-people policies, were manifested through his concept of people-based economy. Therefore, he was commonly known as “father of cooperatives”. When studying in Rotterdam, He observed, particularly on agriculture, the acts of exploitation committed by Dutch investors against the lower class people. He saw the unfair competition between lower class people, with narrow land and traditional tool, and big enterprises which were supported by cash flow and modern technology. The enterprises will produce much more export commodities, tea, rubber, coconut, tobacco, and also will be much viable. The economy of lower class people entered the stage discrimination. In Daulat Rakyat, he wrote much articles aiming at unifying economy of people through development of relatives based cooperative.   

Hatta`s pro-people ideology emerged since he was chosen as chairman of PI in 1926. Through the speech which was delivered in his inauguration “Economische Wereldbouw en Machtstegenstellingen” (World Economic Structure and Contesting Power), Hatta analyzed the structure of world economic order and made it to rearrange the pro-people economic system of Indonesia.

3. Works

In the process of collecting data

4. Awards

In the Presidential Decision No. 081/TK/Tahun 1986, on October 23, 1986, Hatta was awarded the title “Proclamator of Indonesia”. On August 15, 1972, Soeharto awarded him the highest award “Bintang Republik Indonesia Kelas I” (Star of Republic of Indonesia). To honor him, a library, named Hatta library, in Adi Sucipto Street was established.     

(HQ/ter/68/9-07)

References:

• Mubyarto, “Membangkitkan Ekonomi Kerakyatan Melalui Gerakan Koperasi: Peran Perguruan Tinggi”,  Artikel Th. I, No. 6, Agustus 2002, www.ekonomirakyat.org.
• Winarno, Sejarah Ringkas Pahlawan Nasonal, (Jakarta: Erlangga, 2006).
• www.ksupointer.com.
• www.paramadina.wordpress.com.
• www.setneg.go.id.
• www.sinarharapan.co.id.
• www.tokohindonesia.com.
• www.wikipedia.org.

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