The Pancasila’s Real creator: Soekarno or Yamin?

Radjiman Widiodiningrat put a vital question to its members:
what was the philosophical basis to be used for a free Indonesia? In
response to
this issue, to leading secular nationalists set forth their
opinions, on the
first day of the meeting of the investigation body held on
may 29, 1945, M.
Yamin (1903-1962) gave a speech, in which he is supposed to
have been to first
to offer the following five principles to be used as the
basis of the future
independent state:

Nationalism

Humanitarianism

Belief in God

Democracy, and

Social Welfare

On June 1, 1945, Soekarno delivered a speech in the session of
the investigation body, in which he also proposed five principles, albeit
slightly different one:

Nationalism

Internationalism or Humanitarianism

Deliberation or democracy

Social Welfare

Belief in God

The similarities between the two sets of five principles
mentioned above, later created difficulty in determining the real creator of the
five principles which were eventually to be known as the Pancasila. According to
M. Hatta’ statement, he says confidently in many of his writings and statements
that it was Soekarno alone who first offered the well-known five principles
(Pancasila) at the investigating body meeting of June 1, 1945, and who responded
the central question of the philosophical basis for a free Indonesia raised by
Widiodiningrat. According to Hatta, the term Pancasila itself was also coined by
Soekarno.

THE QUESTION OF THE BASIC OF THE STATE

Ideology, which is defined by A.S Hornby as “a set of ideas that form the basis of an economic or political theory or that are held by particular group or person”, is very significant, indeed vital, for the survival of a nation because it gives it a distinct national identity, pride, and strength that can inspire it to achieve its social and political goals.
The founding fathers of the Republic Indonesia realized that a national ideology is indispensable in determining the social and political development of a state. With the approach of independence in 1945, the Indonesian people needed a national ideology that could unite, motivate, and mobilize them to work together to achieve the goals which independence would bring within their grasp.
Before Indonesian independence, the representatives of the Muslim Nationalists and the leaders of the secular nationalists were confronted with several major ideological questions: what was the philosophical basis needed for a free state of Indonesia to satisfy the aspiration of its multi-religious groups and all the political trends existing within it? What kind of a national ideology was to be employed to maintain national unity, integrity, and stability in an independence Indonesia? Islamic ideology? Secular ideology? Was there any other alternative acceptable to both?
Let us take a close look at the composition of the membership of the investigation body. According to Prawoto Mangkusasmito account, of its 68 members only 15 (about 20%) were Muslim Nationalists who really voiced Islamic political interest while the majority (80%), were secular nationalists. This indicates that political power was not balanced between the Muslim nationalists and the secular nationalists in investigating body.
The political discussions between Muslim and secular nationalist regarding all matters relating to the establishment of a free a state proceeded well enough, except for the debate on the philosophical basis and ideology of the state was addressed, however, the ideological clash between the two groups became sharp and heated, especially between the Muslim nationalists faction and the Christian nationalists group. Since it inevitably involved religious sentiments. The representatives of the traditionalist and the modernist Muslim were firmly united against the secular nationalists in the political debates in the investigating body sessions.

The Origin of Rawa Pening

THE ORIGIN OF RAWA PENING

Rawa Pening is a big lake in Central Java. It is famous for its legend. People near the lake like to share a story about the origin of the lake.

Once upon a time, a poor little boy came into a little village. He was very hungry and weak. Hr knocked on every door in the village and asked for some food. But nobody care about him. Nobody wanted to help the little boy.

Finally, a generous woman helped him. She gave him shelter and a meal. When the boy wanted to leave, this old woman gave him a “lesung”, a big wooden mortar for pounding rice. She reminded him, “please remember, if there is a flood you must save yourself. Use this “lesung” as a boat”. The “lesung” was heavy but he was happy to have it. He thanked the old woman.

The little boy continued on his journey. While he was passing through the village, he saw many people gathering on the field. The boy came closer and saw a sick stuck in the ground. People challenged each other to pull out that stick. Everybody tried, but nobody succeeded.

“Can I try?” asked the little boy. The crowd laughed mockingly. The boy wanted to try his luck so he stepped forward and pulled out the stick. He could do it very easily. Everybody was dumbfounded.

Suddenly, from the hole left by stick, water spouted out. It did not stop until it flooded the village. And no one was safe from the water except the little boy and the generous old woman who gave him shelter and meal. As she told him, he used the “lesung” as a boat and picked up the old woman. The whole village became a huge lake. It is now known as Rawa Pening Lake in Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia.