Every year on August 14th, Indonesia commemorates National Scout Day. Scouting movement in the country was widespread by the Pramuka Movement of Indonesia, the only scouting organization. To trace the roots of this observance, let’s delve into the history.
The scouting education movement in the Dutch East Indies began in 1912 in Batavia, later becoming a branch of the Nederlandsche Padvinders Organisatie (NPO). Two years later, the organization was officially recognized as Nederlands-Indische Padvinders Vereeniging (NIPV), with most members being Dutch.
Then, In 1916, a scouting organization entirely composed of indigenous people was established. This organization was formed by Mangkunegara VIII and named Javaansche Padvinders Organisatie.
After the establishment of Javaansche Padvinders Organisatie, various other scouting organizations continued to emerge, based on religion, ethnicity, and other factors. The rapid development led the World Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, to visit Batavia, Semarang, and Surabaya.
However, the increase in scouting organizations in Indonesia didn’t match the growth in their membership numbers. President Soekarno and Chief Scout Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX proposed merging them into a unified entity. They gathered prominent figures and leaders of the scouting movement, including Prijono, Azis Saleh, Achmadi, and Muljadi Djojo Martono.
Subsequently, several events marked the initiation of the Indonesian Scout Movement.
- March 9, 1961: The name “Pramuka” was officially adopted, becoming the Scout’s Day of Sprouts.
- May 20, 1961: Presidential Decree Number 238 of 1961 regarding the Scout Movement was issued.
- July 20, 1961: Representatives of various Indonesian scouting organizations declared their merger into the Scout Movement. This day is also known as the Scout Pledge Day.
And culminating on August 14, 1961, the Scout Movement was introduced widely during a ceremony held in the courtyard of the National Palace. During this ceremony, the Scout Banner was handed over from President Soekarno to Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, who also served as the first Chairman of the National Scout Council.
source: detik.com
