Tjokroaminoto Guru Bangsa

“A great nation is one that truly appreciates its history”

Once again, the award-winning Garin Nugroho, gave birth to a historical epic movie entitle "Tjokroaminoto Guru Bangsa" (Tjokroaminoto Teacher of the Nation). The name Tjokroaminoto is instantly recognizable to most Indonesians, yet few know about the man and his pivotal role in shaping Indonesia’s long journey to independence. Today, the name graces streets, schools and universities all over the country, but only a few know that without Tjokroaminoto, there would have been no Sukarno as Indonesia’s first President. Garin brings the story of this extraordinary man into the screen for us to know this man better.

As always, Garin’s masterpiece presents a breath of fresh air into Indonesia’s film industries which have long been dominated by ghost and love story. Taking the story of the Indonesian national hero Hadji Omar Said Tjokroaminoto to life, Garin managed to recreate the figure who has shaped the history of this nation into a charismatic intellectual figure, skillful strategist, critical writer and editor as well as great orator who could spellbind thousands of people. Tjokroaminoto whom we know only through his black and white images in our history text books as the founder of Sarekat Islam (Islamic Association, the first nationalist political party in Indonesia originated as an association of those Muslim merchants who wanted to advance their economic interests in relation to Chinese merchants in Jave) has found his voice through this movie.

Running for two and a half hours, the film Tjokroaminoto Guru Bangsa tried to portray the long road taken by Tjokroaminoto in building Sarekat Islam to uplift the economic standing of his people and to eradicate poverty and illiteracy as a result of Dutch colonialization. The film took setting in regions where Tjokroaminoto spent his childhood up to his activities as the prominent leader of Sarekat Islam ranging from Bandung, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Pasuruan to Surabaya. This struggle becomes the seeds of the national movement.

Against the historical background after the end of the cultuurstelsel or enforcement planting imposed by the Dutch in the late 1800s, the Dutch Colonial government promoted an Ethical Politics aiming to improve the welfare of Indonesian people as recompense for centuries of occupation and oppression. The Dutch colonial government provided access to education for the children of the nobility in Java. However, the new policy rang hollow as most people still suffered from forced labor and illiteracy. As a result, poverty and injustice was still rampant. Social disparity between ethnic groups was still clearly visible. In the midst of this political and social turmoil, Tjokroaminoto stood up against these injustices. He preached self-reliance, unity and education for all.

The film opened with a scene in which little Tjokroaminoto witnessed the atrocities imposed by a Dutch landlord to the indigenous workers. The workers were treated like slaves, robbed of dignity and self-esteem. One scrawny worker was tortured until his blood soaked the whitish cotton like fiber as one of the main crops of the plantation. This blood-stained cotton with a  word 'hijrah' (a migration or a journey to a better place) instilled by his religious teacher etched in little Tjokroaminoto, becoming the spirit of his struggle. The white cotton and hijrah became the symbol of Tjokroaminoto’s journey to bring back the dignity and self esteem of his people.

Disillusioned with the bureaucracy, Tjokroaminoto cast off his royal status and worked as a menial labor in Semarang as his first hijrah. The more he interacted with his people, the more he felt the pain and suffering endured by them. Soon, he was encouraged to go to Surabaya as he would flourish more in this busier city. He actively wrote in Bintang Soerabaja daily newspaper, criticizing the Dutch colonial policies. Eventually, he joined the country’s biggest Islamic trade union, Sarekat Dagang Islam. Soon, his Intelligence and leadership rewarded with respect.

Later, he built Sarekat Islam (SI). He started to preach young Indonesians to rise up against colonial rule through movements without violence, building education, health and economic development centers.

Tjokroaminoto’s house in Gang Peneleh, Surabaya, became the centre of young leaders of Indonesia. He used his home as a boardinghouse that hosted several eager young men such as Koesno (Sukarno), Semaoen, Muso and Kartosuwiryo. At this simple home, they held a lot discussions on politics, ideology and the nation and these spirited tenants began to Tjokroaminto as their mentor. These young leaders would continue the ideals of Tjokroaminoto to have a dignified, educated and prosperous nation.

Decades later, Tjokroaminoto’s former tenants began developing their own political ideas and views who gave birth to the country’s independence in 1945. Sukarno became a nationalist and married Tjokroaminoto’s daughter, Utari, Semaoen and Muso became communists Kartosuwiryo developed Islamic political ideas.

What’s more in this film is Garin's remarkable attention to details related to the setting, ranging from the traditional batik and kebaya dress of characters, home furnishings, and transport of carriage, tram, train cars and chores-drawn carriage as an old-fashioned mode of transportation. The audience experienced the time-machine travel like through time back in the late 19^th century.

However, a good script and director is helpless without their actors and actresses. Standing ovation should be given to Reza Rahadian who has successfully brought back Tjokroaminoto alive with his remarkable acting. On the other hand, it is such a waste that Christine Hakim’s superb act is not supported by an adequate role as she only gets the role as the caring Simbok for Tjokroaminoto’s family. The long duration of the film with lengthy dialogue laden with symbols also make this film feels tedious and a bit heavy to follow, especially if the target audience is students.

On other note, we can see an irony in this history of our nation. After independence, these idealistic leaders who befriended one another in the boarding house killed each other due to their different ideological. How fragile politics is when ideology and group’s interest are put above the people and the nation. It is something our nation should always keep learn as often we repeat the same mistakes as in the phrase ‘history repeats itself.’

Yet, overall this film is masterpiece. It’s not easy to bring the historical figure to life, especially when the only source of animated means is only through the black and white old photographs. What’s more challenging is on how to give the character a voice in delivering his ideals and dreams. It is a must see film for all Indonesians.