Page 20 - English_Katalog_MOW_Full

PAGE 19 | MOW 04 Exploring Indonesia
Exploring Indonesia

Babad Diponegoro

Indonesia, Netherland

Prince Diponegoro (1785–1855) was a Yogjakarta
nobleman who became an important figure in the
resistance against the Dutch. While in exile in North
Sulawesi, he wrote Babad Diponegoro, considered
to be the first autobiography in modern Javanese
literature. Inspired by Javanese and Islamic
teachings, he saw himself as the Ratu Adil,
commissioned to uphold justice.

He led the Java War (1825–1830), one of the largest
wars in the Nusantara, which united people from
all walks of life. This war was called a holy war,
combining the spirit of Islam and nationalism.
Despite their persistence, Diponegoro's troops
were ultimately defeated after the Dutch received
assistance from Indian troops, and he was
apprehended through deceptive negotiations.

Diponegoro was then exiled to Makassar until his
death in 1855. However, his name lives on as a
symbol of struggle, and in 1973 he was officially
declared a national hero. Now, his legacy is
immortalized through Diponegoro University, the
Diponegoro Division, and various symbols of
Indonesian resistance.