Maria Devina Sanjaya

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The First Steps towards National Revival: A Summary

Indonesia advanced a lot during the first decades of the 1900s. Rapid changes occurred
in both political, cultural, as well as religious affairs. Due to the development of education
among the priyayi of Java and abangan, organizations and sense of identity against Indonesia
grew and spread very quickly. The education that was provided at that time was Western
education that provided a form of reconstruction to the culture and point of view. One of a few
priyayis who initiate Western education for others was Wahidin Soedirohoesodo. Although he
encountered low enthusiasm among the scholars, he found soon a group of students who had
the same vision as him. Quickly after, he formed a student organization called “Budi Utomo”.
This organization developed rapidly that it had hundreds of members. During its short lifespan,
Budi Utomo had been suspected by the Dutch as well as by the locals many times, considered
as political nuisance.
More organizations emerged after Budi Utomo, including Sarekat Dagang Islamiyah
which split into Sarekat Islam (SI) and Tjokroaminoto. SI then identified itself as a Muslim-
Indonesian organization with massive base of members, even reached outer Java. The members
of SI united mainly through the common dislike of the Chinese and the Dutch, yet ironically it
proclaimed loyalty to the Dutch regime. After 1909, Indonesia experienced a surprising spread
of new organizations among educated elite. Those organizations include Tri Koro Dharmo,
Jong Java, Jong Sumatranen Bond, Studerenden Vereeniging Minahasa, Jong Ambon, Sarekat
Ambon, Pasundan, as well as minority group of Pakempalan Politik Katolik Jawi.
Islamic movement also faced a massive reform, where the spread was very thorough
and rapid. However, the Dutch distrusted Islam even though eventually it got cancelled as
Snouck Hurgronje succeeded in altering the policy to disallow interference in the spread of
Islam. Minangkabau played a big part in Islamic reform, it then soon spread to Java, where
West Java was the first region to take the step. However, the biggest modern-Islamic
organization was initiated in Yogyakarta named Muhammadiyah which was established by
K.H. Ahmad Dahlan.
In my opinion, the advancement of education did play a huge part in the pre-
independence days. It provided bases for the scholars to start their movement. Aside from using
it for political interests, such as echoing youth movements to support Independence, the
existence of Western education also helped to spread Islam faster in a wider geographical
range. Simultaneously, it also affected the locals in terms of cultures and point of views, where
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modernization penetrated rapidly. However, I believe that the spread of education through
youth movements as well as organizations, brought a lot of advantages rather than misfortunes.