; appreciate and recognise what history can tell
There is a great aphorism says,” A great nation is a nation which is able to appreciate their heroes, their elders, their founding fathers.” It’s been an irony when our younger generation doesn’t know our historical moment, such as the 10th of November or we’ve known as the heroic day. Logically, we won’t be able to put some feeling; caring or even loving something when we don’t know about it, moreover appreciate it. Our younger generation won’t be able to value the great moment of 10th November when their environment or even their elder never establish, introduce about it.
There are at least two reasons why 10th of November memorized. The first is the war in Surabaya at 10th of November 1945 is the first and the longest war against England and their alliance, and the second is arek-arek Suroboyo are able to kill an England general. It’s something which couldn’t be achieved by other countries at their war history. The fact is, there’s no general die in vain in a terrible ambush such as in Surabaya.
When I uttered arek-arek Suroboyo, what I meant were all people who domiciled in Surabaya. I didn’t talk about their originated. Because war in Surabaya weren’t dominate by Surabayan people. There were maduranese, sumatranese, ambonese, etc.
Indonesia got his independence in 17 august 1945. A month later, 15 September 1945 for exact, England arrived in Jakarta. They said they came with peace so we buy it, we believe it. No conflict, no disagreement, no war, none, nothing was happened. In October 6th, England arrived at Medan. The cases were the same. No conflict, no disagreement, no war, none, nothing was happened. In October 20th, England arrived in Semarang. The cases were the same. No conflict, no disagreement, no war, none, nothing was happened. But what happened in Surabaya was different. England arrived at October 25th. And three days later, in a small ambush with a few men and minimum weapon, the extremist, term which England used to call Surabaya’s rebel, killed Mallaby, an England general. Actually the extremis didn’t know who they were attacking. It’s just a random ambush. They were just seeing cars, many cars, passing the red bridge, Jembatan Merah, and decided to attack those cars, and bam. Mallaby was killed.
England was so furious. England decided to choose general Meinzert to replace Mallaby. Meinzert ordered Surabaya extremist to hand over their weapons max in November 10th six am. If until the time Surabaya extremist didn’t hand over their weapons, Surabaya would be fully attacked by England from the sky, sea and ground. And Surabaya extremist didn’t obey it. And then Surabaya was fully attacked by England and his alliance.
Before the war was happened. There was a story in internal Nahdlatul Ulama, Nu. It was said, all NU people were waiting the instruction, or we called it fatwa, from K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari, NU founding father. K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari was said, all people who lived less than 96 km from Surabaya are a must to follow the war and people who lived more than 96 km are a must in helping people who joining the war. Some people said that is also the history of bonek. Bonek hometowns aren’t more than 96 km from Surabaya.
England said Surabaya will fall in three days. But the fact was, Surabaya fell in a month. Yes, it’s true. We were lost, but we were lost with pride, with dignity. More than 15 thousand people were died in Surabaya’s war. We must know it. We must remember it, more than that we must be able to appreciate it, because, a great nation is a nation who able to appreciate their heroes, their founding father.
A the end, I will quote a wise expression, “Subbanul yaum Rijalul Ghod”. The younger generation are the one who write the future history of our nation. Aisy kariman aw mut Syahidan, write it well or just die before you make it worst.
