Benih Mardeka in the Political Movement in East Sumatra, 1916–1923

Budi Agustono,Junaidi Junaidi,Kiki Maulana Affandi

doi:10.21315/kajh2021.28.2.6

Budi Agustono, Junaidi Junaidi + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.21315/kajh2021.28.2.6

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Abstract

This study aims to explain the movements, relationships and roles of Benih Mardeka newspaper in the political movement in East Sumatra from the period 1916 to 1923. Political movements took place as a result of rapid developments in the early 20th century in East Sumatra into a prosperous plantation area. The movements were carried by organisations delivered through propaganda tools or media, namely newspapers. One of the newspapers that loudly voiced national movement and nationalism in East Sumatra was Benih Mardeka newspaper, which began to appear in 1916. This study uses historical methods that include heuristic, source criticism, interpretation and historiography. The results showed that many articles in Benih Mardeka frequently criticised the issues of colonialism and capitalism. Meanwhile, the poor life of plantation workers became propaganda material for Benih Mardeka in criticising colonial and self-government as well as capitalists, namely plantation companies. Benih Mardeka was also a mouthpiece or tool for Sarekat Islam in conveying the idea of nation and nationalism. Hence, it can be concluded that Benih Mardeka consistently gave the voice of national movement and nationalism in the political movement and the press in East Sumatra.

Highlights

Entering the 20th century, significant changes took place in the order of society in the Dutch East Indies
The secondary sources were in form of documents and compendiums of Dutch East Indies government press, Benih Mardeka newspaper, De Sumatra Post newspaper, Mardeka newspaper and Soeara Djawa newspaper, along with books and journals obtained from the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia collection in Jakarta
This study seeks to explain the history of the Benih Mardeka newspaper as a medium for the political movement of Sarekat Islam and the press movement in the defence of labour in East Sumatra plantations from 1916 to 1923

Summary

Introduction

Entering the 20th century, significant changes took place in the order of society in the Dutch East Indies. This phenomenon led to an increase in the flow of thought about nationalism and movement to distinguish “the coloniser” from. This situation was inevitable due to policies implemented by the colonial government including ethical politics. These policies, especially education, were like two sides of the same coin for the colonial government. Ethical politics gave rise to educated groups that brought thoughts and national movements, which flourished in the early 20th century

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