THE YOUTH PLEDGE DAY

The Youth Pledge is the Main milestone in the history of the Indonesian independence movement. This pledge is considered as a crystallization of the spirit to affirm the ideals of the founding of the Indonesian state. Youth Pledge is the decision of the Second Youth Congress which was held for two days, 27-28 October 1928, in Batavia (Jakarta). This decision confirms the ideals of an “Indonesian homeland,” an “Indonesian nation,” and an “Indonesian language.” This decision was also expected to be the basis for every “Indonesian National Association.” So, it can be published in various newspapers and read before meetings of associations. The term of Youth Pledge itself did not formulate in the decision of the congress, was given afterward. These are three decisions of the congress, as written on the inscription on the wall of the Writing Youth Pledge Museum using the van Ophuijsen spelling.

Pertama:
Kami poetra dan poetri Indonesia, mengakoe bertoempah darah jang satoe, tanah Indonesia.

Kedoea:
Kami poetra dan poetri Indonesia mengakoe berbangsa jang satoe, bangsa Indonesia.

Ketiga:
Kami poetra dan poetri Indonesia mendjoendjoeng bahasa persatoean, bahasa Indonesia.

The Formulation of The Youth Pledge Congress was written by Moehammad Yamin on a piece of paper. It was handed to Soegondo when Mr. Sunario was giving a speech at the last session of Congress. He whispered to Soegondo, “Ik heb een eleganter formulering voor de resolutie” meaning “I have a more elegant formulation for the decision of this Congress”, which Soegondo then initialed agreeing on the piece of paper, then forwarded to others to initial agreed as well. The pledge was initially read by Soegondo then explained at length by Yamin. Since 1959, October 28 has been decided as Youth Pledge Day, which was a national day that is not a holiday set by the Indonesian government through Presidential Decree no. 316 of 1959 dated December 16, 1959, to commemorate the event of the Youth Pledge. One of the facts, the day Indonesia Raya song was being played for the first time by W.R. Supratman with violin. At that time, the Dutch did not allow the word “Merdeka” to be said. So, the song was sung without poetry. Therefore, we must appreciate them by remembering and praying for them by being good citizens, obeying the law, and respecting others.