Indonesia Raya (Great Indonesia) is the national anthem of the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia, as stated in the Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. Indonesian songwriter Wage Rudolf Soepratman (also spelled Supratman) composed the music and lyrics in 1928, when Indonesia was a colony of the Netherlands. The song was written at a time of rising resentment against the colony’s Dutch rulers, who carried out a policy aimed at keeping Indonesians divided.
“Indonesia Raya” was first introduced at the second Indonesian Youth Congress in Batavia (now called Jakarta) on Oct. 28, 1928. At the congress, youth from different cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious backgrounds took an oath, proclaiming three ideals of one motherland, one nation, and one language. Soepratman’s song was played on the closing night of the congress. The Batavia newspaper Sin Po first published the lyrics of the song on Nov. 10, 1928. “Indonesia Raya” quickly gained popularity among Indonesians and became a symbol of national unity. It was adopted as the song of Indonesia’s Nationalist Party and was sung at political rallies. The Dutch banned the song from the radio during the colonial period, though it was allowed to be performed. The Japanese banned it altogether during most of their occupation of Indonesia from 1942 to 1945, during World War II (1939-1945). When Indonesia proclaimed its independence on Aug. 17, 1945, “Indonesia Raya” was chosen as the country’s national anthem.
An English translation of the first stanza of the lyrics is given below, followed by the lyrics in Bahasa Indonesia, Indonesia’s official language.
Indonesia, my homeland, My place of birth, Where I stand guard, Over my motherland. Indonesia, my nationality, My people and my country, Let us all shout, For a united Indonesia! Long live my land, long live my country, My nation and all my people, Arouse their spirits, arouse their bodies For Great Indonesia. Great Indonesia, free and independent, My land, the country I love, Great Indonesia, free and independent, Long live Indonesia!
Indonesia tanah airku, Tanah tumpah darahku, Di sanalah aku berdiri, Jadi pandu ibuku. Indonesia kebangsaanku, Bangsa dan tanah airku, Marilah kita berseru, Indonesia bersatu! Hiduplah tanahku, hiduplah negeriku, Bangsaku, rakyatku, semuanya. Bangunlah jiwanya, bangunlah badannya, Untuk Indonesia Raya. Indonesia Raya, merdeka, merdeka, Tanahku, negeriku yang kucinta Indonesia Raya, merdeka, merdeka Hiduplah Indonesia Raya!
