𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗢𝗥𝗢 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻

 

𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗣𝗢𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗢𝗥𝗢

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗵𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻 ⚔️ Very rarely do we hear anything coming out of Indonesia which is home to one of the most populous and prosperous Muslim communities. The Indonesian culture and people have long been reported for their genteel nature, refined manners and unsuspecting nature. Ibn Batuttah himself frequented the courts of the Sultanate at Aceh. However, what is little known to most Muslims outside of the region, is that Indonesia suffered one of the Muslim world's longest lasting Colonial episodes in history, having been subject to the colonial influence and subjugation of the Dutch for the worse part of 300 YEARS!! (Even longer than Algeria). Commencing (as they always do) with seemingly peaceful commercial exchange between the European merchants and the native Indonesians during the 16th century, when Dutch ships landed in the Archipelago. Over the course of the next 200 years, the Dutch began to entrench themselves in local politics and economic investments culminating in the complete economic monopoly of the Dutch United East India Company which by the 18th century has uprooted and overshadowed the presence and influence of the Mataram Sultanate that had reigned in Java since 1586. At a time when the Dutch began to mount increasingly tyrannical and exploitative campaigns in Java and surrounding regions, a young prince by the name of Diponegoro who was the eldest son of the sultan of Yogyakarta, began to take notice of the looming threat to his father's Sultanate and it's economic interests. Prince Diponegoro was trained in Islamic sciences and well educated. He eventually launched a popular Jihad against the Dutch commencing from the year 1825. The movement gained wide support from all corners of society - from the peasants to the royals. This Liberation effort culminated in the famous Java War, a monumental moment in the history of Indonesia. Henceforth, Prince Diponegoro became the undisputed leader of the Javanese resistance against Dutch between 1825-1830. Throughout the course of this liberation struggle, the prince deprived himself of the luxurious lifestyle that he had previously been accustomed to and dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the liberation of his nation. This inspired more native regions to join in and resist the Dutch. Facing a full blown insurrection, the Dutch decided to lure the prince out of hiding under the pretext of "Peace Agreements" and a promise to end the conflict. The prince welcomed this peaceful initiative and accepted the invite. However, in March 1830 - when he attended the meeting, he was captured by the Dutch army and exiled indefinitely to the island of Sulawesi, where he spent the next 25 years before his death in 1855. The moment in which prince Diponegoro is captured by the deceptive Dutch is commemorated in a famous painting depicting him in a defiant and courageous posture as he is directed towards the custody of the military unit awaiting him. Indonesia remembers the sacrifice and courage of this noble Prince and he is honoured as the nation's hero to this very day. ............