Yamin’s sociocultural and mythical creation of colonized Indonesia by the Dutch for 350 years

Abstract

This research aims to assess Muhammad Yamin’s sociocultural aspects in the process of developing the 350-year Dutch colonization of Indonesia myth. Descriptive qualitative research and Kuntowijoyo’s socio-cultural approach were used. A bibliographic search, document analysis, and data from the 1957 first national history congress, and M. Yamin’s profiles and academic manuscripts were used. Our results show that the myth of the 350-year Dutch colonization of Indonesia was deliberately created in 1936 to weaken the fighting spirit and unity of the Indonesian people. Then, M. Yamin adopted the myth to foster a fighting spirit of nationalism, patriotism, and unity in the Indonesian people during the colonial period. Critical historians eventually began to challenge Yamin’s version of philosophy of history. Moreover, G.J. Resink, in 1968, studied the myth of the 350-year Dutch colonization of Indonesia, successfully dispelling it. Finally, Indonesia accepted Resink and other researchers’ findings as a new historical fact in 2012.