Tan Malaka’s name and life story are legendary. Tan Malaka was declared a National Hero by President Soekarno through Presidential Decree Number 53 which was signed by Soekarno on March 28 1963.
It is so legendary that the life story of this man whose full name is Sutan Ibrahim and whose title is Datuk Tan Malaka has been studied by a Dutch historian named Harry Albert Poeze for decades.
Harry Albert Poeze not only researched Tan Malaka through colonial archives around Leiden and Amsterdam, Netherlands. However, Poeze also visited countries where Tan Malaka had visited other than Indonesia, such as America, England, France, Germany, Russia and the Philippines. Poeze even ventured to Russia to track down Comintern archives about Tan Malaka in Moscow, Russia.
Then, what about Tan Malaka’s achievements and biography and his books? Check out the following article, Mudalovers !
Biography of the Legendary Tan Malaka
Tan Malaka, who was born on June 2 1897, graduated from Kweekschool (Teacher’s School) in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. Because of his intelligence, Tan Malaka studied in the Netherlands. However, to be able to go to school in the Land of Windmills, Tan Malaka had to borrow funds from people in his village and received help from his former teacher as well.
At first, Tan Malaka wanted to get a certificate that he would use to become school principal. However, due to illness, Tan Malaka only received an ordinary teacher’s certificate. After completing his education in the Netherlands, Tan Malaka finally returned to Indonesia and became a teacher for the children of tea plantation workers in Tanjung Morawa, Deli, North Sumatra.
Tan Malaka then migrated to Java and went to Semarang, Central Java. In the capital of Central Java province, Tan Malaka joined the Semarang branch of Sarekat Islam and built a school in Semarang.
During his life, Tan Malaka lived a nomadic life or moved from one country to another, including Russia which strengthened into the Soviet Union. In the Soviet Union, Tan joined the Comintern or Communist International. Tan Malaka had clashes with the ruler of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, and was even accused of being a Trotskyist or having views that were different from Stalinism.
Before World War II, Tan Malaka lived incognito around Southeast Asia. During those undercover years, Tan Malaka used many pseudonyms, such as Ilyas Husein when he was in Indonesia, Alisio Rivera when he was in the Philippines, Hasan Gozali when he was in Singapore, Ossorio when he was in Shanghai, and Ong Soong Lee when he was in Hong Kong.
At the end of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, Tan Malaka disguised himself as a foreman in Banten and spent time writing a famous masterpiece, namely a book entitled Madilog.
During the revolution, Tan Malaka was considered to be the mastermind of the 3 July 1946 incident. Tan Malaka opposed the results of negotiations between the Republic of Indonesia and the Netherlands. At that time, Tan Malaka demanded that Indonesia be 100 percent independent from colonialism. Tan Malaka was involved in the United Struggle together with General Sudirman.
Tan Malaka also founded a party called Musyawarah Rakyat Banyak (Murba). This party participated in elections in 1955, but was suspended in 1965.
Tan Malaka was then killed around February 1949. Tan Malaka was shot dead by Indonesian military forces without trial in Selopanggung, Semen District, Kediri Regency, East Java on February 21 1949. The executioner came from the Sikatan Brigade on orders from high-ranking military officials in East Java.
What caused Tan Malaka to be killed? Tan Malaka was killed by the military because of his consistent resistance to the government. At that time, the government actually took a moderate attitude and was full of compromise towards the Dutch government.
Tan Malaka’s Timeless Books
1. Madilog Tan Malaka: Materialism, Dialectics and Logic (2014) by Tan Malaka
This is the work of Tan Malaka, the Republic’s most famous hero. In this book entitled Madilog , Tan Malaka sees the progress of thirsty humanity through three stages first. The first stage is Mystical Logic, the second is philosophy, and the third is science.
If the Indonesian nation is still stuck in the ‘Mystical Logic’ stage, then it is impossible to move towards becoming an independent and advanced nation. Madilog is a way out of the “mystical logic” and the nationalist Tan Malaka’s appeal for this nation to get out of backwardness and backwardness.
2. Mass Action (2022) by Tan Malaka
In the book Mass Action , Tan Malaka shows his thoughts that a radical seizure of power (putch) is not the best solution. According to Tan Malaka, ‘ putch ‘ is an action by a small group that moves secretly and does not have direct contact with the general population.
The gang usually only makes plans based on their own will and abilities without caring about the feelings and abilities of the large masses.
Tan Malaka wrote about putch makers who forgot that revolution emerged by itself and was the result of various circumstances. If the carpenters leave suddenly at a time determined by themselves, then the masses will not provide help to them when something untoward happens.
Not because they were stupid or didn’t pay attention to the putch, but because the masses only fought for the closest needs and in accordance with economic interests with the aim of a movement being able to achieve its goals. And the father of the Republic, aka Tan Malaka, offered mass action as one solution.
3. Tan Malaka’s Autobiography: From Prison to Prison (2022) by Tan Malaka
Readers need to know that Tan Malaka wrote the book From Prison to Prison in the form of two separate volumes. The first volume tells about Tan Malaka’s struggles in prisons in the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines. Meanwhile, the second volume records Tan Malaka’s journey from Shanghai, Hong Kong, until returning to Indonesia. So, in this book, the two volumes are summarized and combined into one to make it easier for readers.
Even though Tan Malaka is in prison behind bars, he still tries to ignite the fire of the fighting spirit of the Indonesian people. For Tan Malaka, anyone who has the desire to fully enjoy the essence of independence must be sincere and sincere in living the bitter, difficult and bitter life in prison.
This book was written by Tan Malaka himself in 1948, seven years before Indonesia became independent. And Tempo magazine published it as one of the most influential books or contributed to the idea of Indonesian nationality.
Read Also : This is the Biography of Prince Diponegoro: Background of His Life and Role in the Java War 1825–1830
4. Towards 100% Independence (2017) by Tan Malaka
The book Towards Merdeka 100% is a collection of Tan Malaka’s important works as well as being a statement of Tan Malaka’s stance on free and independent politics and economics. Apart from that, this book can raise our awareness of the true meaning of independence, namely 100% independence.
5. Gerpolek Guerrilla Political Economy (2022) by Tan Malaka
In the past, when he was still alive, Tan Malaka was very concerned about the shrinking of the territory of the Republic of Indonesia with the establishment of a puppet state formed by the Dutch. Meanwhile, the capitalists, colonialists and imperialists succeeded in disrupting the economy and finances in the Republic of Indonesia.
Therefore, Tan Malaka did not want to compromise with the forces of colonialism and imperialism. Tan Malaka does not agree to negotiations with opponents. In fact, Tan Malaka considers that negotiating is an attitude of sacrificing the sovereignty and independence of the people of the country.
Gerpolek is a book that was conceptualized and written by Tan Malaka himself when he was in Madiun prison. This book was written without any support from literary information because it was written in prison. Tan Malaka was only armed with knowledge, memory and a spirit of leadership to continue thinking about the continuation of the independence of the Republic of Indonesia.
Now that times have changed, the word independence seems to be slowly being eroded into a false sense. Interference from foreign parties and personal and group interests defeated the spirit of the proclamation.
Therefore, the writing in this book will continue to be relevant to read. Tan Malaka, through his work, issued a statement regarding free and independent politics and economics.
6. Deception, Politics and Plans for a Struggling Economy (2022) by Tan Malaka
The book contains a combination of three Tan Malaka political and economic brochures which were then circulating in limited quantities. This book is still relevant to read and can raise awareness in all of us about the true meaning of independence.
7. Soekarno and Tan Malaka: True Statesmen Who Were Once Exiled (2020) by Adji Nugroho and Novi Fuji
Tan Malaka gave birth to Madilog as a new way of thinking. By connecting scientific evidence and developing it with paths and methods that are in accordance with the roots and veins of Indonesian culture as part of the existing cultures in the world.
Evidence is facts and facts are the floor of the science of evidence. In the study of philosophy, the main and first idealism is mind , unity, thoughts and feelings. The philosophy of materialism is considered by Tan Malaka to be nature, objects and the objective real reality around us as something that exists, is the main thing, and is the first. This is Tan Malaka’s fundamental thought which underlies his movement by looking at the political situation in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Soekarno became a fan of Tan Malaka’s theories, as were all the movement figures at the beginning of Indonesian independence. Soekarno based his great orations on the same logic.
Tan Malaka and Sukarno can be crowned as statesmen who fought with their own model and character. These two statesmen fought in their own ways. Both of them had also been exiled, even for Tan Malaka, prison could be called a second home because he had been there too often.
However, politics is still politics. Many tragedies are wreaking havoc and continue to occur. Tan Malaka and Soekarno are remembered in different ways too. Now, it’s time for us to reminisce about the struggles of these two national figures in a book that is the same and interesting to read.
8. The Story of Tan Malaka from Behind Prison and Exile (2020) by Badruddin
Tan Malaka is one of the Founding Fathers of the Republic of Indonesia whose life story is quite mysterious and unlike most other heroes. Year after year, Tan Malaka guerrillas and carries out underground movements in the revolutionary struggle against colonialism in his homeland.
This book, entitled The Story of Tan Malaka from Behind Prison and Exile, examines in detail the history of Tan Malaka’s life, his works, stories from behind prison, when he was exiled, and the tragic event that resulted in Tan Malaka losing his life. Accompanied by objective evidence, this book will lead readers to ‘true’ history.
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9. Tan Malaka, Leftist Movements, and the Indonesian Revolution Volume 5 (2020) by Harry A. Poeze
In 1942 Tan Malaka returned to Indonesia and used a pseudonym after 20 years of traveling to various countries. Then, in 1927, Tan Malaka led the illegal and anti-colonial Indonesian Republican Party.
This book by Poeze, which researched Tan Malaka for decades, presents a history of Tan Malaka’s adventures and the Murba Party’s attempts to become the largest leftist party in Indonesia.
Tan Malaka was almost forgotten by his own people, especially during the New Order regime. After the New Order regime fell, there was a revival of the character and life story of Tan Malaka. Many books by and about Tan Malaka were published.
In fact, his grave was opened in 2009. The Murba Party, which was founded by Tan Malaka, suffered a fate. Currently, the most active is the Tan Malaka traditional family which is supported by the West Sumatra provincial government. However, the figure of Tan Malaka is still controversial to discuss.
10. Tan Malaka: Struggle and Simplicity (2020) by Anom Whani W.
The book by Anom Whani W. reviews the story of Tan Malaka’s struggle for the realization of Indonesian independence, a nation he loved so much. In fact, Tan Malaka was willing to leave his family in order to continue fighting for Indonesia even though he had to lose his life at the hands of his own people.
11. Love Story and Thoughts of Tan Malaka (2013) by Syafruddin Munir
This book examines how Tan Malaka became an iconic figure. By reading the story about Tan Malaka, we are like reading the story of a character who pays great attention to humanitarian issues.
12. Tempo Series: Tan Malaka (2016) by Tempo
The series in this book re-reports Tan Malaka’s life and was written by the editor of Tempo.
13. Tan Malaka: A Short Biography 1897-1949 (2020) by Taufik Adi Susilo
This book is a short record about the footsteps of the forgotten revolutionary independence hero, Tan Malaka.
14. Tan Malaka A Complete Biography (2018) by Masykur Arif Rahman
A book that records the complete biography of Tan Malaka. Tan Malaka’s life story never seems boring to keep reviewing and reading.
Read Also : This is the Biography of Prince Diponegoro: Background of His Life and Role in the Java War 1825–1830
15. Tempo Tan Malaka 2022 Series (2022) by Tempo Editorial Team
The series in this book is a revised edition of the Tempo book series about Tan Malaka. There are always interesting stories to be told in books.
This is an article about the biography of Tan Malaka and his books. Hopefully it’s useful! And of course, if Mudalovers wants to read other articles, you just need to visit mudabicara.com. Because we will always provide the best and most complete articles for Mudalovers.