Sam Ratulangi
Encyclopedia
Dr. Gerungan Saul Samuel Jozias Ratulangi or Ratu Langie (November 5, 1890 - June 30, 1949), usually known as Sam Ratulangi, was a Minahasa
politician, journalist and teacher from North Sulawesi
, Indonesia
. His famous saying in the Tondano language 'Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou' is translated as 'man lives to educate others'.
The son of Jozias Ratulangi and Augustina Gerungan, both from wealthy, well-respected Minahasa families, Sam Ratulangi was born in Tondano, North Sulawesi
, at the time a part of the Dutch East Indies
. He was a gifted student, who after completing his studies in Tondano and Batavia
went to Amsterdam
in the Netherlands for further studies. He graduated from a teacher's college as a science teacher in 1915, studied for two more years at the University of Amsterdam, and in 1919 earned his Ph.D.
at the University of Zurich
, Switzerland.
On his return to Indonesia, he moved to Yogyakarta
to teach science at a high school, and then moved on to Bandung
to found the insurance company Assurantie Maatschappij Indonesia — the first known instance of the word "Indonesia
" being used in an official document. He had already led some Indonesian students' associations in Europe, and in 1924 was appointed as secretary of the Council of Minahasan Students. He used this position to lobby for more rights and is widely credited with getting the Dutch to abolish forced labor (Herendiensten) in Minahasa.
Appointed to the Volksraad
(the Dutch East Indies' parliament) in 1927, he continued to agitate for equal rights and was one of the founding members of the United Scholars of Indonesia (Vereniging van Indonesische Academici) in 1932. He continued to serve in the Volksraad until 1937, when he was arrested and jailed for several months due to his increasing political involvement. He then became the editor of Nationale Commentaren, a Dutch-language news and issues magazine.
In June 1937 his book Indonesia in den Pacific was published, a visionary book, in which Sam Ratulangie warned against the militarisation of Japan and the possibility that Japan might invade the Indonesian archipel because of its natural resources which Japan lacks. And he described the leading role Indonesia and other countries in South-East Asia around the Pacific Rim could play - the Pacific Ocean could equal the Atlantic in importance.
In early August 1945, he was appointed as one of the members of the Preparatory Committee on Indonesian Independence, and after Sukarno
's unilateral declaration of independence on August 16, he was thereafter appointed as the governor of Celebes
(Sulawesi) on August 22. Arrested by the Dutch on April 5, 1946, he was exiled for three years to Serui on Yapen Island, Western New Guinea
. Freed briefly on March 23, 1948 and brought to Yogyakarta, he was captured again on December 25, 1948 when the Dutch occupied Yogyakarta. Due to his failing health, he was released again in Jakarta in February 1949, where he died on June 30.
In August 1961, Ratulangi was posthumously awarded the title of Pahlawan Kemerdekaan Nasional (National Independence Hero) by Sukarno. Manado
's Sam Ratulangi Airport
, the main thoroughfare Jalan Sam Ratulangi and the Sam Ratulangi University
are all named after him.
Minahasa
The Minahasa are an ethnic group located in the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia, formerly known as North Celebes...
politician, journalist and teacher from North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. His famous saying in the Tondano language 'Si Tou Timou Tumou Tou' is translated as 'man lives to educate others'.
The son of Jozias Ratulangi and Augustina Gerungan, both from wealthy, well-respected Minahasa families, Sam Ratulangi was born in Tondano, North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
, at the time a part of the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
. He was a gifted student, who after completing his studies in Tondano and Batavia
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
went to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in the Netherlands for further studies. He graduated from a teacher's college as a science teacher in 1915, studied for two more years at the University of Amsterdam, and in 1919 earned his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
, Switzerland.
On his return to Indonesia, he moved to Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta (city)
Yogyakarta is a city in the Yogyakarta Special Region, Indonesia. It is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as batik, ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. Yogyakarta was the Indonesian capital during the Indonesian National Revolution from 1945 to...
to teach science at a high school, and then moved on to Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
to found the insurance company Assurantie Maatschappij Indonesia — the first known instance of the word "Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
" being used in an official document. He had already led some Indonesian students' associations in Europe, and in 1924 was appointed as secretary of the Council of Minahasan Students. He used this position to lobby for more rights and is widely credited with getting the Dutch to abolish forced labor (Herendiensten) in Minahasa.
Appointed to the Volksraad
Volksraad (Dutch East Indies)
A People's Council for the Dutch East Indies was provided for by law in 1916. But was procrastinated until the actual installation of the Council in 1918. It was a hesitant and slow attempt at democratisation of the Dutch East Indies. The power of the Volksraad was limited as it only had advisory...
(the Dutch East Indies' parliament) in 1927, he continued to agitate for equal rights and was one of the founding members of the United Scholars of Indonesia (Vereniging van Indonesische Academici) in 1932. He continued to serve in the Volksraad until 1937, when he was arrested and jailed for several months due to his increasing political involvement. He then became the editor of Nationale Commentaren, a Dutch-language news and issues magazine.
In June 1937 his book Indonesia in den Pacific was published, a visionary book, in which Sam Ratulangie warned against the militarisation of Japan and the possibility that Japan might invade the Indonesian archipel because of its natural resources which Japan lacks. And he described the leading role Indonesia and other countries in South-East Asia around the Pacific Rim could play - the Pacific Ocean could equal the Atlantic in importance.
In early August 1945, he was appointed as one of the members of the Preparatory Committee on Indonesian Independence, and after Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
's unilateral declaration of independence on August 16, he was thereafter appointed as the governor of Celebes
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
(Sulawesi) on August 22. Arrested by the Dutch on April 5, 1946, he was exiled for three years to Serui on Yapen Island, Western New Guinea
Western New Guinea
West Papua informally refers to the Indonesian western half of the island of New Guinea and other smaller islands to its west. The region is officially administered as two provinces: Papua and West Papua. The eastern half of New Guinea is Papua New Guinea.The population of approximately 3 million...
. Freed briefly on March 23, 1948 and brought to Yogyakarta, he was captured again on December 25, 1948 when the Dutch occupied Yogyakarta. Due to his failing health, he was released again in Jakarta in February 1949, where he died on June 30.
In August 1961, Ratulangi was posthumously awarded the title of Pahlawan Kemerdekaan Nasional (National Independence Hero) by Sukarno. Manado
Manado
Manado is the capital of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia. Manado is located at the Bay of Manado, and is surrounded by a mountainous area. The city has about 405,715 inhabitants, making it the second-largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar...
's Sam Ratulangi Airport
Sam Ratulangi Airport
Sam Ratulangi International Airport , also known as Manado International Airport, is located in North Sulawesi, 13 km northeast of Manado. The airport is named after the Minahasan educator and independence hero Sam Ratulangi...
, the main thoroughfare Jalan Sam Ratulangi and the Sam Ratulangi University
Sam Ratulangi University
Sam Ratulangi University is a public university in Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. It was established on September 14, 1965; and since then, Sam Ratulangi University has been considered as one of the most leading public Universities in Central and Eastern Regions of Indonesia. The University's...
are all named after him.