Surakarta
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- For the abstract strategy board game, see Surakarta (game).
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| Surakarta | |||
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| Nickname: "Solo" | |||
  Surakarta
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | Indonesia | ||
| Province | Central Java | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Joko Widodo | ||
| - Vice-mayor | F.X. Hadi Rudyatmo | ||
| Area | |||
| - City | 44.03 km² (17 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2004) | |||
| - City | 572,345 | ||
| - Density | 12,998.97/km² (33,667.2/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | WIB (UTC+7) | ||
| Area code(s) | 0271 | ||
| Website: www.surakarta.go.id | |||
Surakarta (its formal name; locally it is referred to as Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500,000 people located in Central Java. It is some 65 km (40 miles) northeast of Yogyakarta, and 100 km (60 miles) southeast of Semarang. The city was a center of power during the 18th century Mataram Sultanate.
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[edit] Name
The local inhabitants are more familiar with and use the name of "Solo" or "Sala" for the city, rather than "Surakarta". "Surakarta" is however used in formal and official contexts. The city has similar name with neighboring district of "Kartasura", which the preceded capital of Mataram located.
[edit] Geography
The eastern part of the town is bordered by Bengawan Solo River, the longest river on Java. The river is the inspiration for the song Bengawan Solo, a 1940s composition by Gesang Martohartono which became famous throughout much of Asia.
[edit] Government
The royal head of Surakarta has the title Susuhunan.
[edit] Subdistricts
Surakarta is divided into 5 subdistricts (kecamatan): Banjarsari, Jebres, Laweyan, Pasar Kliwon, and Serengan.
[edit] Important Places
There are 2 major markets in the city, namely Pasar Klewer and Pasar Gede. Pasar Klewer is famous as the biggest textile market in the region.
[edit] History
This is the older of the two royal cities in Central Java (the other is Yogyakarta), and its ruling family can lay claim to being the rightful heirs to the Mataram dynasty. Like Yogya, Solo has two royal palaces and a number of museums, yet its tourist industry is nowhere near as developed. The city's main source of income is from textiles, and Solo has the biggest batik market on Java. Solo also makes an ideal base from which to visit the home of Java Man at Sangiran, as well as the intriguing temples Candi Ceto and Candi Sukuh.
[edit] Founding The Dynasty
A series of wars and clashes between the Adipati (dukes) followed the death of the last Sultan of Demak Bintoro, the first Islamic kingdom in Java. One of the prominent powerful dukes was Jaka Tingkir, son-in-law of the late sultan. After defeating the last opponent duke of Jipang-Panola, Jaka Tingkir aka. Sultan Hadiwijaya claimed the throne and moved the capital to the city of Pajang, located ± 8 miles from the present-day Surakarta. His adopted son, Sutawijaya, formed a conspiracy and killed him with the favour of an assassin. Then, he ascended the throne and once again, moved the capital to Mataram in the present-day province of Jogjakarta, and the new dynasty was founded. It was such an irony to find out that Sutawijaya was the man of the battle which fought against the duke of Jipang-Panola and killed the duke, gained the victory for Pajang.
[edit] Pakubuwono II
Up until 1744, Solo was little more than a quiet backwater village, 10km east of Kartasura, the contemporary capital of the Mataram kingdom. But in that year the Mataram susuhunan (king), Pakubuwono II, backed the Chinese against the Dutch, and the court at Kartasura was sacked as a result. Pakubuwono II searched for a more auspicious spot to rebuild his capital, and in 1745 the entire court was dismantled and transported in a great procession to Surakarta, on the banks of the Kali (River) Solo. It was said that the place he chose to be the new palace was sited on a small lake. It was also said by the "babad" or official record of court historians that the lake was drain by the favor of the mythical queen of southern sea, Nyi Roro Kidul. However, the decline continued, and in 1757, after the kingdom of Mataram was divided into the Surakarta Sunanate (northern court) and the Jogjakarta Sultanate (southern court), another rival royal house of Mangkunegoro was established by Raden Mas Said aka. Pangeran Samber Nyowo (The Slayer Prince) right in the centre of Solo. It marked the success of Dutch's politic in East Indies, which was known as "divide et impera" (divide and conquer). Mataram held so much influence in Java, yet it remained nothing more than falling under the Dutch's hands. Thereafter, Solo's royal houses wisely avoided fighting and instead threw their energies into the arts, developing a highly sophisticated and graceful court culture. The gamelan pavilions became the new theatres of war, with each city competing to produce the more refined court culture. Wayang Kulit and Wayang Wong are several theatrical arts still performed today.
[edit] Pakubuwono X
Perhaps the most significant ruler of the twentieth century, was Pakubuwono X. His relationship with the Dutch, and his large family, and his popularity contributed to perhaps the largest funeral procession that ever occurred in Solo. He had contributed large expenditure on the Royal Graveyard at Imogiri in the main sections of the graveyard, as well as towards the new section that he was buried in.
[edit] Struggle for Independence
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After hearing the proclamation of Indonesia Independence, both Mangkunegara VII and Pakubuwono IX declared Surakarta as a part of Republik of Indonesia (RI). Because of this support, President Soekarno declared Surakarta as Daerah Istimewa Surakarta (DIS)/"Surakarta Special Region".
On October 1945, an anti "swapraja" (anti feudalism/anti monarchy) movement was established in Surakarta. One of the leaders of this movement is Tan Malaka, from Indonesian Communist party. This organization want to abolish all feudal kingdoms in Surakarta, the Surakarta special region (DIS) and replace all regents in Surakarta with ordinary people, not members of Mangkunegaran or Susuhunan family.
On October 17, 1945, KRMH Sosrodiningrat, the vizier of Mangkunegara kingdom was kidnapped and murdered by this movement. The new vizier, KRMT Yudonagoro and 9 other officials from Kepatihan were also kidnapped and murdered by the same movement on March 1946.
Since 1946, the capital of Republic of Indonesia (RI) was moved to the nearby city of Yogyakarta.
On June 16, 1946, the DIS was abolished replaced with regency of Surakarta. This event is commemorated as the birthday of the city of Surakarta.
On June 26, 1946, RI's Prime Minister Syahrir was kidnapped by a rebel movement led by Major General Soedarsono, the commander of 3rd division.
President Soekarno was angry at this kidnapping and on July 1, 1946, 14 civilian leaders of this movement, including Tan Malaka was arrested by Indonesian police.
On July 2, 1946, the rebel leaders were freed from Wirogunan prison by rebel troops, led by Maj. Gen. Soedarsono.
President Soekarno ask the local military commander in Surakarta, Lieutenant Colonel Soeharto (later becoming President Soeharto) to arrest Major General Soedarsono and the rebel group. Lt. Col. Soeharto refused to follow this command unless it was given directly by the Military Chief of Staff, General Soedirman. President Soekarno was angry at this rejection and called Lt. Col. Soeharto a stubborn ("koppig") officer.
Lt. Col. Soeharto pretended that he supported the rebellion and persuaded Maj. Gen. Soedarsono and his group to stay at his HQ at Wiyoro, Surakarta for their own safety. Later that night he persuaded Maj. Gen. Soedarsono to meet President Soekarno at his palace on the next morning. Lt. Col. Soeharto secretly informed the presidential guard troops about Maj. Gen. Soedarsono plan on the next morning.
On July 3, 1946, Maj. Gen. Soedarsono and his group was arrested by the presidential guard troops near the palace. PM Syahrir was released unharmed. Several months later, Maj. Gen. Soedarsono and his group were pardoned and released from prison.
Later this rebellion is called "failed July 3, 1946 coup". This event is mentioned on President Soeharto's autobiography published in 1988.
From 1945 to 1948, Dutch re-occupied various regions in Java. The remaining area of Republic Indonesia were in Jogyakarta, Surakarta and surrounding areas.
On Dec. 1948, Dutch attacked and occupied the city of Yogyakarta and Surakarta. The Indonesian army led by General Soedirman started a guerrilla war from surrounding areas. Dutch said that RI was destroyed and no longer existed.
To disprove this claim, Indonesian army conducted large scale raids into the city of Jogyakarta and Surakarta called "Serangan Oemoem". The Indonesian troops managed to beat the Dutch troops and occupy the city for several hours. The leader of the raid to Yogyakarta was Lt. Col. Soeharto. The leader of similar raid to Surakarta on August 7, 1949 was Lt. Col. Slamet Riyadi.
To commemorate this event, the main street on the city of Surakarta is renamed as "Brigadier General Slamet Riyadi Street".
[edit] Independence
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From October 1965 to 1966, there was a large scale chaos in Central Java, because of an abortive coup by a rebel group called "Dewan Revolusi" or G30S.
In early 1980s, Abubakar Basyir and Husein Al Habshi established Pesantren Ngruki, a religious school in Surakarta. Unfortunately they teach extreme, hard line moslem in this school.
In 1984-1985, the extreme moslem group from Ngruki plan to attack foreign tourist in the nearby Borobudur temple and the island of Bali. Fortunately the bomb at Borobudur exploded prematurely early in the morning. The bomb sent to Bali exploded prematurely on "Pemudi" bus on the way from Surakarta to Bali.
In 1985, Basyir and Habshi were arrested by police. They were sentenced for several years in prison. They appealed the sentence and during the appeal process, Basyir managed to escape to Malaysia and stay for 14 years in Malaysia without any documents. In Malaysia, Basyir and Sungkar established the "Jihad Islam" (JI) organization.
On May 1998, there was a large scale riot in Surakarta, because of oil price hike. Mob ransacked and burned the office of Surakarta major and other nearby government buildings. The destroyed buildings are completely rebuild now.
In 1999, Basyir returned to Indonesia and established an extreme moslem group called Majelis Mujahiddin Indonesia (MMI) in Surakarta. This extreme moslem group often conduct sweeps against foreign tourists from USA, UK, Denmark, Italy in Surakarta.
From 2002 to 2005, terrorists related to JI group was blamed for bomb attacks against foreign tourist in various area in Indonesia. Most JI terrorists are alumni of "Pesantren Ngruki" in Surakarta.
[edit] Local dialect
Although people in Central Java use the same language named boso Jowo (Javanese), they have special characteristics which differentiate them from which region they come. For example, for the word "cold" (dingin in Indonesian, especially for weather), people in Surakarta use the word adem, but people in Semarang use the word atis. The Javanese language of Surakarta and Yogyakarta is well known as the standard for all Javanese speakers throughout the nation.
[edit] Cuisine
Some of the local foods include Nasi Liwet, Nasi Timlo, and Serabi.
[edit] Reference
- Miksic, John (general ed.), et al. (2006) Karaton Surakarta. A look into the court of Surakarta Hadiningrat, central Java (First published: 'By the will of His Serene Highness Paku Buwono XII'. Surakarta: Yayasan Pawiyatan Kabudayan Karaton Surakarta, 2004) Marshall Cavendish Editions Singapore ISBN 981-261-226-2
- Soeharto, G. Dwipayana dan Ramadhan K.H. "Ucapan, Pikiran dan Tindakan Saya". 1988. PT Citra Lamtoro Gung.
[edit] External links
- Military History Centre - "Serangan Oemoem" (August 7, 1949).
| Subdistricts of Surakarta |
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| Banjarsari | Jebres | Lawiyan | Pasar Kliwon | Serengan |
