REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By Zainal Arifin*
The Golden history of Indonesian struggle also noted the important role of youth in realizing the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Youth Pledge on October 28, 1928 is a unifying pillar of youth movements across the country to win the independence.
List of names of young men, of whom Chairul Saleh, Djohar Nur, Subadio, Sidik Kertapati, AM Hanafie, Wikana, Sukarni, Suroto Kunto, and others were representation of the youth movement that has been urging Bung Karno and Bung Hatta to proclaim Indonesia's independence immediately at 17 August 1945. It's not an exaggeration, when the proclaimer, Ir Soekarno, stating, 'Give me 10 youths, undoubtedly, I will rock the world.'
With the passionate spirit and a critical mindset, the youth were more capable to make systemic changes. In fact, these socio-political changes in society and the state are often spearheaded by the youth movement.
Indeed, youth is a period of the most optimal level to empower the life. The maturity of the body, feelings, and intellectuality encouraged a high sensitivity to the dynamics of life in the vicinity. Critical thinking and dynamic movement is a typical nature of the youth whom idolized by ummah (society).
Thus, the youth must be able to be a driving force for ummah progress when resolving the process of development in all fields. Because, the paddle of transition of a particular civilization lay on youth shoulder.
Ironically, nowadays, youth have been held as a hostage for not interfering or critical to public affairs that become a part of the youth itself. In fact, today's youth is only used as a shield for capitalism and designed not to be able to ask about the purpose of life they fought for.
The danger is younger generation who born from capitalistic education are merely behaved hedonistically, apathetically, apolitically, egoistically, low mentality, and dishonorable. The behavior is not in line on youth as agents of change. In addition, they also tend to be pragmatic and permissive. Brawl, promiscuity, and so on, become evidences of demoralized behavior currently scattered among teenagers and youth. Therefore, mankind, today, desperately need idealistic youth.
We could mention several figures to reflect the greatness and the gloriness of figures ever born in the era of globalization. Starting from Hasan al-Banna (1906-1949) who had completely memorized the Qur'an from his childhood and founded the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt in 1928 when he was only 22 years old. Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani (1909-1977), founder of the Hizb al-Tahrir, who has memorized the Qur'an in his early teen years.
Next, there is Said Nursi (1878-1960), a scholar and a Sufi Kurdish origin, who had mastered a variety of basic Islamic sciences at an early age. Again, there is Abul A'la al-Mawdudi (1903-1979) in Pakistan which has become a journalist at the age of 15 years and had led a newspaper at the age of 17 years. The question is, don't we miss such a younger generation?
Similarly, the content of the Youth Pledge is an oath of loyalty to the ideal formulation of Indonesias youth in a congress known as Youth Congress II, which was read on October 28, 1928. In addition, each year, the date was later commemorated as Youth Pledge Day. Formulation of the Youth Pledge was written by Muhammad Yamin on a piece of paper when Mr. Sunario speaks at the last session of Congress. The oath was read by Soegondo initially and then described at length by M Yamin.
Ideally, vows which were vocalized by someone especially by the youth, should initiate nationalism on themselves and increase their unlimited and everlasting loyalty and not for one period only. For example, freedom fighter Diponegoro, M Natsir, Agus Salim, Good Hadikusumio, Kasman Singodimedjo, had has vowed to continue to fight against the invaders forever.
Their struggle for independence not just for personal or group interests, but the fight for values of truth in defense of the nation by enforcing the divine principle above all else. This principal is in synergy to the meaning of the oath itself, as described in the dictionary Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) that a word of oath means as a statement officially pronounced by testifying to God with a strong determination to fulfill the oath.
This is what the youth should do. They must be brave and sincerely vow to remain steadfast and maintain their identity as the real agent of change. Then, do vow to become youths who are sincerely dedicate their life for the sake of a noble civilization.
In conclusion, the spirit of the Youth Pledge which has been declared almost a century ago must be able to derive to the life of the nation at anytime and anywhere. It's values of vows which unite visions and bring together ummah to become a major force in looking after the earth of God from the excess of occupation in any forms.
Hopefully, it will soon be born great generation of young people in the struggle to save the ummah. They are the generation who can lead and direct ummah, particularly in Indonesia, to be more progressive to uphold the principles of faith toward a civilized civilization. n
*Central Board of Shabab (The Youth) of Hidayatullah
*The views expressed by the authors and contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of ROL and editors.
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