Ki Hajar Dewantara Biography

Raden Mas Soewardi Soeryaningrat was born in Yogyakarta on May 2nd 1889. He came from Pakualaman family, the son of GPH Soerjaningrat, grandson of Pakualam III and grew up in a family of Yogyakarta Kingdom.

Then, in 1922 when he was 40 years old (according to the count of Caka Year), Raden Mas Soewardi Soeryaningrat changed his name to Ki Hadjar Dewantara.

Since that time, he was no longer using a knighthood in front of his name. Based on the Indonesian spelling in since 1972, its name is misspelled as Ki Hajar Dewantara.

Ki Hajar Dewantara ever studied at Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) at the Dutch colonial era it is an elementary school in Indonesia.

After graduating from ELS, then he went to STOVIA (Bumiputera Medical School) is a school for the education of indigenous doctors in Batavia in the Dutch colonial era. This time it became the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia. Although he did not could not complete his education because of illness.

Ki Hajar Dewantara worked as a writer and journalist in various newspapers, such as: Tjahaja Timoer, Midden Java, De Expres, Sediotomo, Kaoem Moeda, Poesara, and Oetoesan Indies. His writing is very communicative and brave with anti-colonial spirit.

Besides work as a writer, he is also active in social and political organizations. Since 1908, the beginning of the Boedi Utomo (BO), he was active in the propaganda section to socialize and Indonesian public awareness about the importance of a sense of unity in the nation.

Not only that, it turns Ki Hajar Dewantara also known as a prominent pioneer of education for the natives of Indonesia from the Dutch colonial era.

In fact, he managed to establish a school of the National University Student Park (National Institute of Taman Siswa Onderwijs) on July 3rd 1922.

At first the Dutch colonial government attempted to deter his plan. Dutch government issued a Wild School Ordinance on October 1st 1932. However, because of his persistence and struggle, the ordinance was finally lifted.

The college emphasizes a sense of nationality to indigenous education so that they love the nation and homeland and fight for independence.

Ki Hajar Dewantara’s been appointed as Minister of Teaching Indonesia referred to as the Minister of Education, Teaching and Culture in the cabinet of the first Republic of Indonesia.

For his service pioneered education in Indonesia, in 1957 he received an honorary doctorate (doctor honoris causa, Dr.H.C.) of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM).

Finally, he was declared as Father of National Education of Indonesia, as well as his birth day serves as National Education Day.

Ki Hajar Dewantara died on 26th April 1959 in Yogyakarta. He was buried at the Taman Wijaya Brata, tombs for Taman Siswa’s family. His face was also immortalized on the Indonesian currency denomination of old 20,000 rupiahs.

Brief Biography of Ki Hajar Dewantara

Full Name: Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat

Other Names: Ki Hajar Dewantara, Father of Education, and Ki Hadjar Dewantara

Profession: Education Leaders

Religion: Islam

Place of Birth: Yogyakarta

Date of Birth: Thursday, May 2nd 1889

Nationality: Indonesia

Wife: Nyi Sutartinah

Date of Death: April 26th 1959

Died Age: 69 years

Grave: Taman Wijaya Brata

Motto of Ki Hadjar Dewantara

• Ing Ngarso Sung Tulodo
• Ing Madyo Mangun Karso
• Tut Wuri Handayani

The most famous Posts of Ki Hajar Dewantara

If I A Dutch (Als ik een Nederlander was)

“If I were a Dutchman, I will not hold parties independence in a country that had we took his own independence. Parallel to the path of such thoughts, not only unfair, but also inappropriate to send the inlander made donation to fund the celebration. The idea to implement the celebration of that should be insulting them, and now we also dredging their gun. Let’s go ahead insult outwardly and inwardly it! If I were a Dutchman, it is particularly offended me and fellow countrymen is the fact that inlander required to participate sponsor an activity without the slightest interest for him”.