Raden Mas Soewardi Soeryaningrat was born in Yogyakarta on May 2nd
1889. He came from Pakualaman family, the son of GPH Soerjaningrat,
grandson of Pakualam III and grew up in a family of Yogyakarta Kingdom.
Then, in 1922 when he was 40 years old
(according to the count of Caka Year), Raden Mas Soewardi Soeryaningrat
changed his name to Ki Hadjar Dewantara.
Since that time, he was no longer using a
knighthood in front of his name. Based on the Indonesian spelling in
since 1972, its name is misspelled as Ki Hajar Dewantara.
Ki Hajar Dewantara ever studied at
Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) at the Dutch colonial era it is an
elementary school in Indonesia.
After graduating from ELS, then he went
to STOVIA (Bumiputera Medical School) is a school for the education of
indigenous doctors in Batavia in the Dutch colonial era. This time it
became the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia. Although he did
not could not complete his education because of illness.
Ki Hajar Dewantara worked as a writer
and journalist in various newspapers, such as: Tjahaja Timoer, Midden
Java, De Expres, Sediotomo, Kaoem Moeda, Poesara, and Oetoesan Indies.
His writing is very communicative and brave with anti-colonial spirit.
Besides work as a writer, he is also
active in social and political organizations. Since 1908, the beginning
of the Boedi Utomo (BO), he was active in the propaganda section to
socialize and Indonesian public awareness about the importance of a
sense of unity in the nation.
Not only that, it turns Ki Hajar
Dewantara also known as a prominent pioneer of education for the natives
of Indonesia from the Dutch colonial era.
In fact, he managed to establish a
school of the National University Student Park (National Institute of
Taman Siswa Onderwijs) on July 3rd 1922.
At first the Dutch colonial government attempted to deter his plan. Dutch government issued a Wild School Ordinance on October 1st 1932. However, because of his persistence and struggle, the ordinance was finally lifted.
The college emphasizes a sense of
nationality to indigenous education so that they love the nation and
homeland and fight for independence.
Ki Hajar Dewantara’s been appointed as
Minister of Teaching Indonesia referred to as the Minister of Education,
Teaching and Culture in the cabinet of the first Republic of Indonesia.
For his service pioneered education in
Indonesia, in 1957 he received an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris
causa, Dr.H.C.) of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM).
Finally, he was declared as Father of
National Education of Indonesia, as well as his birth day serves as
National Education Day.
Ki Hajar Dewantara died on 26th
April 1959 in Yogyakarta. He was buried at the Taman Wijaya Brata,
tombs for Taman Siswa’s family. His face was also immortalized on the
Indonesian currency denomination of old 20,000 rupiahs.
