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Every year on Nov. 10, the people of Indonesia celebrate National Heroes Day. This day commemorates a chain of events collectively known as the Battle of Surabaya — a confrontation and battle between pro-independence Indonesian soldiers, or Nederlandsch Indie Civil Administratie , and British and Dutch (VOC) troops during the fight for independence.

The fight culminated on this day in 1945, and although Indonesia lost, it is still considered one of the most significant events in the country’s struggle against the invaders.

Sutomo, more often referred to as Bung Tomo, is one of the key icons celebrated on National Heroes Day. Throughout the Battle of Surabaya, the former Javanese journalist delivered numerous impassioned speeches and radio broadcasts, legendary for their fiery style.

For elementary school students in the late 1980s and early ’90s, the history of Bung Tomo and his words were compulsory reading. One particular photograph of Bung Tomo, delivering one of his speeches, is ingrained in the memory of most of the people of this generation. The photo shows the man with his finger pointing in the air and his eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. This iconic image undoubtedly did much to cement the legend of Bung Tomo.

Despite his well-known story, it was not until November last year that Bung Tomo was recognized by the government on its official list of pahlawan nasional, or national heroes.

Bung Tomo was recognized by the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono 27 years after his death in 1981, along with two other heroes of the fight for independence: Mohammad Natsir and KH Abdul Halim.

Currently, the national heroes list is comprised of 144 people who fought for the country during the Dutch and Japanese colonial period, the 1945-49 Perang Kemerdekaan (War of Independence) or in the post-independence battles. The list also includes military officers who were killed during the alleged Communist coup attempt on Sept. 30, 1965.

The list also includes such important national figures as Capt. Pattimura of Maluku, the Acehnese heroine Cut Nyak Dien and Gen. Sudirman, who was the commander of the military during the country’s fragile early years of independence, between 1945 and 1949.

There are also those on the list who never took part in military battles but who contributed to the country’s independence in a variety of ways. These include RA Kartini, who fought for women’s empowerment and improved access to education, Wage Rudolf Supratman, who wrote the national anthem, and Tuan MH Manullang, who utilized the power of the press in the cause of independence.

As compulsory reading for elementary school students, the stories of these people could be a bore. But as the students grew older and faced real-life struggles of their own, the courage of Bung Tomo and his peers in fighting for independence became a true source of inspiration.

To mark National Heroes Day, we asked five Jakartans to tell us who their heroes are. Too often, national heroes don’t get the respect and recognition they deserve, but it is also good to be reminded that there are other heroes who also deserve our respect and honor.


Heroes, From The Unsung to Sukarno

Melisa Dwi Sophia, 25, singer
Meli, as she is usually called by her friends, named three heroes: The Beatles, Mother Teresa and the country’s first president, Sukarno.

The Beatles were an obvious choice for Meli who is lead singer of local cover band Asia Line.

“The Beatles are a legendary band,” she said. “They have inspired so many people with their songs and lyrics. They don’t only sing about love, but also made songs about life, about politics — about people in general. Until today, they are still extremely popular, even with the younger generations.”

Speaking about Mother Teresa, Meli said that she admired the way she devoted her life to the sick and the poor.

“I like that she had a strong and unfailing belief in God,” Meli said. “And she did what God teaches us to do — to love and care about others.”

For Meli, a hero is someone who inspires others to do good.

“Take Mother Teresa, for example, she wasn’t a rich person, but she was able to make a difference in the lives of thousands of people less fortunate than herself,” Meli said.

He may have gotten third mention, but Meli sees former President Sukarno as being right up there with The Beatles.

“Because of President Sukarno, Indonesia became independent,” Meli said. “I may not know his policies in detail, but he gave a lot to this country.”

She said it was important to remember national heroes.

“We have to appreciate what they have done for the country and for us.”

Melanesia Tamara Achta Hutahayan, 34, team leader of the Specialty Division of SOS International Jakarta
Mela named her father as her hero.

“My personality is shaped 50 percent by him, 20 percent by my mother and 30 percent by my surroundings,” she said.

Mela said her father had sent her and her three siblings along to English lessons as children.

“It was not until recently that he told us he had borrowed money from the bank and relatives to finance our education, including the English classes,” Mela said.

“In our neighborhood, where we’ve been living for more than 25 years, I think it was only my father back then who realized how important English would be for us children when we grew up.

“Furthermore, he sacrificed a university degree, just so his younger brother could graduate.”

Other things Mela admires about her father is his patience and the affection he shows his family. Mela said her father had never gone anywhere but home after work.

“Even up until when he retired last year, he always came home to his wife and his family as soon as he finished work,” she said.

“Unlike some of my friends’ fathers, I never saw my father hang out with his friends after work.”

Asked for her thoughts on national heroes, she said, “I’m sure they are all great because they fought for this country, I learned that in school. But I didn’t really think much about them as our family was struggling when we were young.

“And that was when my father came out as my hero.”

Iyah, 30, domestic worker
Iyah “lives in” at her employer’s house. Her duties include cleaning and taking care of their two children, a 5-year-old and a 1-year-old.

Iyah wakes up at 5 a.m. every day to pray and help prepare breakfast for her employer’s family. A typical day consists of cleaning the house and doing the laundry and the dishes, while keeping a constant eye on the children.

Iyah’s hero is her late husband, Ratim, who passed away at the age of 36 because of tuberculosis.

It is the memory of Ratim that keeps her going, said the mother of an 11-year-old girl. “He supported me in every way.”

Back then, when Ratim was still there, Iyah said they used to share stories and talk about important matters in life.

Usually, Ratim would look to his religion in solving problems.

For Iyah, a hero is the kind of person who lives by example. They also have to teach good values.

Ratim had it all, Iyah said. “For example, he always reminded me to pray.”

Iyah said memories of Ratim would come flooding back to her every time she heard the adzan (call to prayer). Especially on a Friday.

“I always remember him walking to the mosque for Friday prayers,”

When asked whether it was important to honor the men who died in the war for independence and became national heroes, Iyah said, “Of course it is, but for me, a husband is a hero in the family.”

Soldiers are supposed to be everybody’s heroes, Iyah said, but it is her husband who will always stay in her heart.

Andrew Darwis, 30, Internet entrepreneur
Darwis founded online forum Kaskus — a derivation of kasak kusuk (gossiping) — on Nov. 6, 2,000, when he was still a student at a university in Seattle.

Ranked by PC Magazine as the eighth most popular Indonesian-based Web site, Kaskus currently has 1.1 million registered members.

Darwis is known on the forum as the godfather of Kaskus.

“I think the [godfather] title is way too big for me. I don’t think I deserve it,” Darwis said.

Darwis said that Michael Jackson is his hero. “I like his ambition in wanting to save the earth, in order to make a better world for all of us,” he said.

While Darwis agrees everybody needs a hero, he said it was important for people to strive to be heroes themselves.

Darwis dismissed old-fashioned notions of heroes.

“A hero isn’t a knight who jumps across a pit of fire to save a princess from an evil witch,” he said.

Darwis said today’s heroes are fighting a whole different war altogether.

“Now, our fight as a person is on a different front,” Darwis said. “We are up against diseases, pollution, and the extinction of mankind. Right now, our greatest enemy is not an invading country, but it is ourselves, we who are continuing to destroy the earth.

“We are creating even greater damage than all the wars combined.”

Darwis lives by the principle that kindness is repaid tenfold.

“That’s why Kaskus was built as an information center, where questions are asked and answered by the community members themselves.”

Pebrina Hapsari, 29, travel writer
Pebrina is a great admirer of Munir Said Thalib, the human rights activist who was murdered on a flight to Amsterdam in 2004.

“I didn’t know him personally,” Pebrina said. “But when he was killed, I was so sad that I cried for him.”

Pebrina admires Munir for his courage. “He stood up for the people who couldn’t speak up for themselves, people whom he might have not even known personally. And I believe it wasn’t been easy for him to face the threats against him and his family from the political bigwigs.”

Pebrina said that despite his fame, Munir led a simple life. “He sacrificed his own needs for the greater good of many,” she said.

Munir’s life and work have inspired Pebrina to be more firm in her convictions in life. “When you believe in something, you fight for it. Don’t be afraid to be the only one fighting for a good cause,” she said.

For Pebrina, Munir’s struggle was every bit as important as that of the country’s heroes. 

“In the old days, our national heroes took up arms to free our country from the colonialists because they believed that a free Indonesia would be a better Indonesia,” she said.

“Likewise, Munir dared to speak out against the political elite because he believed it to be important to disclose the truth to the public.”

Pebrina is of the belief that rather than celebrate Heroes Day with fanfare, it is more important to keep the spirit of the national heroes alive.

“We fight a different fight today,” she said. “Hopefully, when you get to know your [national] heroes, you’ll be infected by their courage and enthusiasm.”