Youth Pledge

The Youth Pledge (Indonesian : Sumpah Pemuda), was a declaration made on 28 October 1928 by young Indonesian nationalists at a conference in the then-Dutch East Indiest. They proclaimed three ideals, one motherland, one nation and one language.

Meaning of youth pledge

SWEAR Youth, which declaration with youths joined in the various 'joung' on October 28, 1928 joined the trip marked the history of this new. Spirit fueled the boys in the middle of the colonial period. The objective one, achieving the ideals of independence Youth Pledge, the National Awakening May 20, 1908 and August 17, 1945 Proclamation is the "red thread" history of the struggle to achieve Indonesia's sovereign. Events pejuangan three colors that milestone. Between the period is always marked by the spirit of struggle with mendepankan unity, unity and independence goals. At that time, people talked about the importance of unity, because the condition of society lives fragmented by Dutch colonialism. When triggered, based on a desire Youth Pledge has one nation, one language and homeland. There was no intention to form a single tercetus country, because the occupation makes this intention as one that "taboo" and forbidden. When finally formed the country of Indonesia in 1945, then rev up to 1949 historical, nationalist and our patriotism is very high. Then, when entering 1950-1959, the era and the spirit was different. At this time we are experiencing a crisis of unity and nationhood. This era, which in the stretch of history called the democratic-liberal. This is indicated by various local rebellions and strong-rooted political party. Then, there were times that passed from the era of guided democracy, the new order to reform. Travel history of the period of Indonesia's long enough. Presently, we are contemplating the meaning of the Youth Pledge with the soul and the spirit of nationalism and the desire to unite high. But, whether we bond as a nation is strong and sturdy. This should be a reflection of the national character. When ground water is perfectly safe, whether the national spirit so faded, faded join the national spirit? Democracy in which we live today can provide a variety of positive and negative impacts, if not followed by awareness of high national spirit. Of course, democratization does not make us divided. Perhaps, in a split views and political attitudes, not to permeate the sense of nationalism and nationhood. There is no democracy without nationalism. Vice versa. Is it possible to strengthen democracy as nationalism will fade? Nationalism and nationality we place on one position, for the sake of the integrity of the nation and state. Democratization of our struggle to make a tool realize expectations ideally seek to achieve prosperity. Spirit and soul of the Youth Pledge to comprehend back in young people today. The future of this nation lies in the work ethic and the spirit of young people. In the history of any nation in the world, young people still occupy an important position on any changes in the social order. This also happened in Indonesia. Direction and national struggle lies in the critical attitude of the young. Poor state of repair in the young teacher anymore. It would be more tragic if young people affected and accordingly the trail with the deteriorating state of the nation. This is not our wish. Young people are the hope of all citizens, equal to the expectations in the past, when blown Youth Pledge. Breakers and the spirit of youth is also charged in the present, but in another form, with the aim of improving the economic condition of the nation and the welfare of the people.

Background

The first Indonesian youth congress was held in Batavia, capital of the then-Dutch East Indiest in 1926, but produced no formal decisions but did promote the idea of a united Indonesia. In October 1928, the second Indonesian youth congress was held at three different locations. In the first session, the hope was expressed that the congress would inspire the feeling of unity. The second session saw discussions about educational issues. In the third and final session, held at Jalan Kramat Raya No, 126, on October 28 participants heard the future Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya by Wage Rudolf Supratman. The congress closed with a reading of the youth pledge.

The pledge

In Indonesian, with the original spelling, the pledge reads:

Pertama
Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia, mengakoe bertoempah darah jang satoe, tanah air Indonesia.
Kedoea
Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia, mengakoe berbangsa jang satoe, bangsa Indonesia.
Ketiga
Kami poetera dan poeteri Indonesia, mendjoendjoeng bahasa persatoean, bahasa Indonesia.

In English:

Firstly
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one motherland, Indonesia.
Secondly
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, acknowledge one nation, the nation of Indonesia.
Thirdly
We the sons and daughters of Indonesia, respect the language of unity, Indonesian.

Can the Youth Pledge still evokes national pride?

Eighty-two years after the Youth Pledge was first made, young people are trying to give it true meaning according to their own ways.

The country observes Youth Pledge Day every Oct. 28 to commemorate the first Indonesian Youth Congress in 1928, when young leaders declared that Indonesia was one nation and had one language.
University of Indonesia Student Nature Lovers club leader Ade Wahyudi said that nature was his way to understand the essence of the Youth Pledge.
“I only have a little knowledge about this country. But through mountaineering, for example, I not only see the wonders of Indonesia, our motherland, but also meet people living in the area,” he said.
A perfect way to start understanding Indonesia’s diversity is by learning about the country’s diverse cultures, he added.
“People really need to know every inch of their country if they want to be good leaders. They need to know and feel the wonder of nature in the country before they can serve the country,” he said.
Besides mountain climbing, Ade’s club also likes wall climbing, white water rafting, spelunking and diving.  Ade said members of his club always found time during their trips for research to implement what they had learned in the classroom.
Some members of the club will climb Indonesia’s highest mountain, Puncak Jaya in Papua, to observe the Youth Pledge Day. Some will go to Pontianak, West Kalimantan, to meet with nature lovers from other universities.
Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB)’s student association chairman Firman Wahyudi said he expressed his love of Indonesia through agriculture.
The senior agribusiness student said that Indonesian youth actually could play an important role in developing the country.
He expressed concern that the values of the Youth Pledge no longer had a unifying spirit for young people today.
“The spirit of nationalism is now being undermined by political, social and economic conditions that have combined with globalization. People, including young people, seem to be neglecting the values behind the Youth Pledge,” he said.
He said that young people were always involved in changes affecting a country. Firman started to think about what students could do for Indonesia. Getting to know the world outside the school was essential for reigniting the spirit of the pledge, including in the agriculture sector, he said.
“Our agriculture sector is still far from being well developed. It is not considered a beneficial sector yet,” Firman added.
He said that downstream and upstream improvement of Indonesia’s agriculture was needed to create a better system to support the sector.
Agriculture students were needed to transform what was taught in classrooms into reality, including consulting with the government on agricultural policies and working together with farmers, Firman said.
“If we took every aspect of agriculture seriously, we might actually become an agricultural superpower,” he said.
IPB will organize an exhibition featuring food from across the archipelago together with cultural parade.
It will also hold a dialog with the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) on rice imports.
Leiden University’s Indonesian Student Association (PPI) chairman Syahril Siddik said that his sense of nationalism for developing Indonesia was high, even more so since he was abroad.
“No, it’s not because the history of Dutch colonization in Indonesia. It’s more about the fact that such a small country with all the limitations in its natural resources can uphold the welfare of its people,” he said.
To keep the nationalism alive among Indonesian students in the Netherlands, PPI has organized discussions and conducted projects with Indonesian scholars. For example, PPI published a book on the history of Indonesia’s independence, featuring accounts from both the Indonesian and Dutch sides.
Syahril said that the PPI had no difficulties in finding Indonesian scholars in the Netherlands who were willing to share their views with PPI members.
“Instead, it’s us who find it hard to arrange times for the discussions,” he said, adding that they also organized sports in their spare time to keep them close.
Syahril said that it was time for Indonesia’s youth to feel national pride.
“Many of us become very patriotic when our national team has a match against another country. It should be more than that. It is time that spirit touches the country’s integrity,” he said.