HENRIETTE ROLAND HOLST
(Dutch poet, writer and activist, one of the inspirations for Indonesian freedom fighters)
"We are not temple builders
We're just rock carriers
We are the generation that must be destroyed
In order to become a new generation
Above our tomb
More perfect"
The poem above is the work of a Dutch poet, Henriette Roland Holst, which was found in the trouser pocket of an Indonesian Republican fighter who died in the Lengkong battle. What a thrill.
Is there anyone who doesn't appreciate or even ignores the services of our heroes?
To note, the Lengkong battle erupted on January 25, 1946 in the Lengkong area, Tangerang. At that time the Republican youths fought bravely against the Japanese army. A total of 3 officers and 34 cadets died in this heroic battle (one of them was Subianto, uncle from Prabowo Subianto).
The story of the Lengkong battle can be read in the link below:
https://amp.kompas.com/megapolitan/read/2016/08/15/19180011/events-lengkong-semangat-pemuda-yang-tak-pernah-mati
Henriette's poems really inspired the struggle of the Indonesian people at that time. In Boven Digul, on the eastern tip of Indonesia, Henriette's poems are also engraved on the grave of a prominent anti-colonial fighter in the 1920s: Ali Archam.
Among freedom fighters, the name Henriette is no stranger. His poems were used as fuel for the spirit of resistance. His writings and thoughts often become references for Indonesian freedom fighters.
Soekarno was much influenced by Henriette's thoughts. Soekarno's well-known treatises, such as Achieving an Independent Indonesia, Sarinah, and Indonesia Sue, repeatedly quoted Henriette's books and sayings. Bung Hatta, when he was still in Holland, was also very close to Henriette. The two of them attended the International Women's Conference in Switzerland together in 1926.
During her lifetime, Henriette actively supported the struggle for Indonesian independence. Not only in the form of appeals and campaigns, he was often directly involved in helping anti-colonial fighters in Indonesia.
Henriette Roland Holst was a Dutch poet, writer and socialist activist. He was born on December 24, 1869. He came from a Liberal Christian family. He died on November 21, 1952.
- Mahesa Jenar
Notes:
Resumed from several sources.
HENRIETTE ROLAND HOLST
(Penyair, Penulis, dan Aktivis Belanda, salah satu Inspirasi Para Pejuang Kemerdekaan Indonesia)
"Kami bukan pembangun candi
Kami hanya pengangkut batu
Kami angkatan yang mesti musnah
Agar menjelma angkatan baru
Di atas pusara kami
Lebih sempurna"
Sajak di atas adalah karya penyair Belanda, Henriette Roland Holst, yang ditemukan di saku celana seorang pejuang Republik Indonesia yang gugur di pertempuran Lengkong. Sungguh menggetarkan.
Masih adakah yang tidak menghargai atau malah abai pada jasa-jasa para pahlawan kita?
Untuk diketahui, pertempuran Lengkong meletus pada tanggal 25 Januari 1946 di daerah Lengkong, Tangerang. Saat itu pemuda-pemuda Republik bertempur gagah berani melawan tentara Jepang. Sebanyak 3 perwira dan 34 taruna gugur dalam pertempuran heroik itu (salah satunya Subianto, om dari Prabowo Subianto).
Kisah pertempuran Lengkong bisa dibaca pada link di bawah ini:
https://amp.kompas.com/megapolitan/read/2016/08/15/19180011/peristiwa-lengkong-semangat-pemuda-yang-tak-pernah-mati
Sajak-sajak Henriette memang sangat menginspirasi perjuangan rakyat Indonesia kala itu. Di Boven Digul, di ujung Timur Indonesia sana, sajak Henriette juga terpatri di makam seorang pejuang anti-kolonial terkemuka di tahun 1920-an: Ali Archam.
Di kalangan pejuang kemerdekaan, nama Henriette memang tidak asing lagi. Puisi-puisinya dijadikan pengobar semangat perlawanan. Tulisan-tulisan dan pemikirannya sering menjadi rujukan para pejuang kemerdekaan Indonesia.
Soekarno banyak dipengaruhi oleh pemikiran Henriette. Risalah-risalah Soekarno yang terkenal, seperti Mencapai Indonesia Merdeka, Sarinah, dan Indonesia Menggugat, bolak-balik mengutip buku-buku dan ucapan Henriette. Bung Hatta, ketika masih di negeri Belanda, juga sangat dekat Henriette. Keduanya pernah bersama-sama menghadiri Konferensi Perempuan Internasional di Swiss tahun 1926.
Semasa hidupnya, Henriette aktif memberikan dukungan bagi perjuangan kemerdekaan Indonesia. Tak hanya dalam bentuk seruan dan kampanye, ia bahkan sering terlibat langsung membantu pejuang-pejuang anti-kolonial di Indonesia.
Henriette Roland Holst adalah seorang penyair, penulis, dan aktivis sosialis Belanda. Ia dilahirkan tanggal 24 Desember 1869. Dia berasal dari keluarga Kristen Liberal. Dia meninggal dunia tanggal 21 November 1952.
- Mahesa Jenar
Catatan:
Diresume dari beberapa sumber.