Abdurrahman Baswedan

Abdurrahman Baswedan, also known as AR Baswedan ( ; 9 September 1908 – 16 March 1986) was a nationalist, journalist, Indonesian freedom fighter, diplomat, and writer. Baswedan was a member of the Central Advisory Council during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies and of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence (BPUPK), served as Deputy Minister of Information of the Third Sjahrir Cabinet, a member of the Central Indonesian National Committee Working Group (Badan Pekerja Komite Nasional Indonesia Pusat, BP KNIP), a member of parliament, and also a member of the Indonesian Constitutional Assembly. Baswedan was one of Indonesia's first diplomats who successfully gained de jure and de facto international recognition for the Republic of Indonesia (from Egypt). He was awarded the title of National Hero of Indonesia in 2018. Independence Fighter In August 1934, Semarang based daily newspaper "Matahari" published an article on Indonesians of Arab descent, calling them to unite in supporting Indonesia's independence. Baswedan himself was of Arab descent, but he spoke with a strong East Javanese accent. He called for people of Arab descent living in Indonesia to adhere to the principle: "di mana saya lahir, di situlah tanah airku." (Where I was born, is where my homeland is) His picture on the article conveyed the message strongly as he was wearing a blangkon (Javanese traditional hat). On 4 October 1934, after the publication of an article, accusing Arab-Indonesians of supporting the Dutch colonists, Baswedan gathered ethnic Arabs in Semarang. In the gathering, they declared the Arab-Indonesian Youth Pledge, which proclaimed Indonesia as their motherland, and their commitment to support the fight for Indonesia's independence. In repercussion to the congress, the Indonesian Arab Party (Partai Arab Indonesia, PAI) was established and Baswedan was elected as its chairman. To focus on the political struggle, he left his well-paid job at the Matahari daily newspaper being paid 120 guldens, worth 24 quintal of rice. Journalism Baswedan was a tough journalist who worked not for money. His decision to leave Matahari was not the only display of his commitment. He moved from the Sin Tit Po Newspaper which paid him 75 gulden to dr. Soetomo's Soeara Oemoem which only able to pay him 10-15 gulden. For his exemplary character, Soebagio IN put him in the list of 111 Indonesia's national press pioneers.