MOHAMMAD HATTA

Mohammad Athar is the son H. Muhammad Djamil and Siti Saleha.

He was born on the 12th of August 1902, in Fort de Kock (Bukittinggi).

Mohammad Athar is more well known as Mohammad Hatta or Bung Hatta.

He is also known as "Bapak Koperasi". His father died when he was only 7

months. After his father died, Mohammad Hatta's mother, re-married to

another man, called Agus Haji Ning. Mohammad Hatta grew up,

surrounded by people who really understand Islam.

Mohammad Hatta started his formal education in a private school.

After a while, he moved to a public school, but his education stopped

when he was in grade 3. Later on, he moved to Europeesche Lager School

(ELS). This is equivalent to Elementary School at that time. Mohammad

Hatta finished ELS in 1913. After finishing ELS, he moved to Meer

Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO), which is equivalent to Middle School.

He finished this stage of education in 1917. After MULO, Mohammad Hatta

moved to Prins Hendrik School. 

Mohammad Hatta started to take interest in politics during his study

in Handless Hogeschool, Amsterdam, from 1921 - 1932. In 1922,

Mohammad Hatta joined a community called Indonesische Vereniging, this

commutnity later changed its name to Perhimpoenan Indonesia (PI).

Perhimpoenan Indonesia is a community created by the

Indonesiancitizens who lived in Dutch at that time. Mohammad Hatta was

the treasurer of the Indonesische Vereniging at that time. In that

community, Mohammad Hatta was also in charge of the publication of a

magazine called Hidia Putera. Hindia Putera is a magazine produced by

Perhimpoenan Indonesia. Hindia Putera then changed its name to

"Majalah Indonesia Merdeka". In 1925, Mohammad Hatta was elected to

be the head of Perhimpoenan Indonesia. He was the head of

Perhimpoenan Indonesia from 1925 until 1930. Unfortunately, this

community lead him to jail. In 1926, a member of "Partai Komunis

Indonesia" (PKI), which is a party that is very against the colonialism of

Dutch in Indonesia, offered Mohammad Hatta  and the members of

Perhimpoenan Indonesia to join the community and fight against the

Dutch, because of this, the Dutch accused Mohammad Hatta of joining an

illegal party. At that time, Mohammad Hatta had not agreed to join the

party, this resulted in a bad relationship between Mohammad Hatta and

PKI. On September 23, 1927, Mohammad Hatta was caught by the Dutch,

due to the same reason. He was accused of joining PKI to fight against the

colonialism of Dutch in Indonesia. In 1927, Mohammad Hatta presented a

speech regarding the accusation, called Indonesia Vrij. On the 22nd of

March 1928, Mohammad  Hatta was released from prison. 

In 1932, after finishing his study, Mohammad Hata returned back to

Indonesia, but unfortunately, he was captured by the Dutch in 1934.

Mohammad Hatta was exiled from Batavia (Jakarta) to Boven Digul,

Papua. Mohammad Hatta stayed in Digul until 1937. In Digul Hatta was

paid a little amount of money for farming. As a custody in Digul, Hatta was

very diligent. He organises his time wisely and during his free time, he

usually reads books to increase his knowledge. Mohammad Hatta also

gave lessons to his fellow friends in Digul. In 1937, Mohammad Hatta,

along with Sutan Syahrir were moved again to Banda Naira. In Banda

Naira, Mohammad Hatta started to write in newspapers. This gave him

much more money, than if he was only farming.  By the 9th of March

1942, Hatta was released from being a custody of the Dutch. When he got

back to Jakarta, Hatta was offered by general Harada of Japan to work for

Nippon (Japan) and to be given a high position, but he refused to take the

offer and chose be an adviser for Nippon. Mohammad Hatta used this

opportunity to defend the rights of Indonesia. 

After the lost of Japan to America, the rising generation (golongan

muda) of Indonesia pushed Bung Karno and Hatta to proclaim Indonesia's

independence as soon as possible, before the Dutch comes back to take

control of Indonesia. Bung Karno and Mohammad Hatta keeps refusing to

declare the independence, because they think Indonesia is not ready

enough to be an independent country. Until the 15th of August, 1945, the

rising generation held a meeting and decided that they will force Ir.

Soekarno and Hatta to proclaim Indonesia's independence the following

day. The rising generation thought this was the best time to proclaim their

independence, because at that time, they are not under the control of any

other country. On the 16th of August, Soekarni, Yusuf Kunto and Singgih,

three men who are also the rising generation of Indonesia kidnapped

Soekarno and Hatta. These three men took them to Rengasdengklok. In

Rengasdengklok, the rising generation pushed Bung Karno and

Mohammad Hatta to proclaim their Independence that same night. At that

time, occurred a commotion between the rising generation and Bung

Karno and Bung Hatta. In the evening, Mr. Achmad Soebarjo came to

settle the commotion. After a while, Bung Karno, Bung Hatta and the

rising generation decided that they will proclaim their independence the

next day. After the decision had been made, Bung Hatta and Bung Karno

were taken back to Jakarta. They gathered all members of PPKI (Panitia

Persiapan Kemerdekaan Indonesia) to prepare for the proclamation. By

4.00 am, Ir. Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta and Mr. Achmad Soebarjo had

already written the proclamation text, which is then typed by Sayuti Melik.

In the morning, Ir. Soekarno along with Hatta proclaimed Indonesia's

independence. Mohammad Hatta married with Rahmi Rachim on November 18,

1945 in the village of Megamendung, Bogor, West Java. They have three daughters, Meutia Farida, Gemala Rabi'a, and Halide Fatma. The two oldest daughters are married.The first with Dr. Sri-Edi Swasono and the second with Drs. Mohammad Chalil Baridjambek. Hatta had witnessed the birth of two grandchildren, namely Sri Juwita Hanum Swasono and Mohammad Athar Baridjambek.

Mohammad Hatta became Indonesia's first vice president from 18

August 1945 until 1 December 1956. He resigned from being vice

president, because of some disagreements with Soekarno. Hatta died on

14 March 1980 in Jakarta and was buried in Jakarta's Tanah Kusir public

cemetery. He was declared a "Proclamation Hero" by the Suharto

government in 1986.