Sugondo Djojopuspito

Sugondo Djojopuspito (22 February 1905 – 1978) was the Indonesian Youth Congress leader in 1928 who declared The Youth Pledge (Sumpah Pemuda), i.e. known as: Satu Nusa, Satu Bangsa, dan Satu Bahasa: Indonesia (One Motherland, One Nation, and One Language: Indonesia).

Background and education

Sugondo Djojopuspito was born in Tuban, Jawa Timur on 22 February 1905. His father was a clerk in the Village Office of Tuban. He educated for HIS (7 year primary school) from 1911 to 1918 in Tuban, then moved to Surabaya for entering MULO (3 year Primary High School) from 1919 to 1921. During his education in Surabaya, he lived with Sukarno in the same house of HOS Tjokroaminoto. After that he moved to Yogyakarta to continue his education by entering AMS/B (3 year Secondary High School) from 1922 to 1924. Finally he moved to Batavia (Jakarta) to enter The Lawyer College, and until he got 2nd grade diploma.

The Indonesian Youth Pledge in 1928

The first Indonesian youth congress was held in Batavia, capital of the then-Dutch East Indies in 1926, but produced no formal decisions but did promote the idea of a united Indonesia. In October 1928, the second Indonesian youth congress was held at three different locations. In this Youth Pledge, Sugondo was elected as the leader. In the first session, the hope was expressed that the congress would inspire the feeling of unity. The second session saw discussions about educational issues. In the third and final session, held at Jalan Kramat Raya No, 126, on October 28 participants heard the future Indonesian national anthem Indonesia Raya by Wage Rudolf Supratman. In the moment, Sugondo asked Supratman not to sing the song but to play it on the violin, so that the Dutch Police did not hear the text of Merdeka. The congress closed with a reading of the youth pledge.

Medal of Honor "Bintang Jasa Utama"

He was awarded a Medal of Honor "Bintang Jasa Utama". He died in Yogyakarta in 1978.

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