Haji Agus Salim Diplomat, Activist, and Indonesian Thinker

Haji Agus Salim or Masyudul Haq is one of the most influence person in term of foreign policy in the early age of Indonesia Indpendency. He was born in Koto Gadang, Bukittinggi, West Sumatera.  He was a well-known writer, diplomat, and Islamic scholar who was considered one of Indonesia's national heroes. Agus Salim was also well-known for being a pioneering organization leader, an anti-colonialist, and one of the first Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Indonesia.

Rich family man Agus Salim attended the Hogere Burgerschool (HBS) in Jakarta and the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) in Riau to study Dutch. Having mastered nine foreign languages (English, Dutch, German, French, Arabic, Turkish, and Japanese), he graduated as the best student. Despite his desire to practice medicine in the Netherlands, he was never given the chance to pursue this dream and finally found employment as a translator at the Dutch Consulate General in Jeddah. There, he was influenced by the teachings of Islamic reformists like Muhammad Abduh and Jamaluddin Al-Afghani and developed his knowledge of Islam under the tutelage of his uncle, Sheikh Ahmad Khatib.

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Agus Salim returned to Indonesia in 1911 and established the Hollandsche Inlandsche School (HIS) in his birthplace before going into politics with Sarekat Islam (SI). Together with well-known individuals like Abdul Muis and Haji Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto, he made a significant contribution to the organization. Salim was a key figure in the development of the Indonesian Muslim community and in preventing communist ideology from permeating Sarekat Islam. Additionally, he was well-known for instituting party discipline within Sarekat Islam and for using his speeches and writings as a journalist to vehemently criticize Dutch colonial government.

In addition to being involved in SI, Agus Salim was also involved in a number of political initiatives, such as the Jong Islamieten Bond. As a Volksraad (People's Council) member, he rose to prominence by being the first to speak Indonesian. He subsequently resigned from the Volksraad, calling it a "nonsense comedy censored" by the Dutch, nonetheless.
Agus Salim participated in a number of important international discussions throughout his career as a diplomat, such as the 1947 United Nations session and the Round Table Conference. Additionally, he was the Foreign Minister in the cabinets of Amir Sjarifuddin and Syahrir. Agus Salim was a prolific writer who contributed to international diplomacy in addition to writing on a wide range of subjects, such as politics, religion, education, and culture.

Agus Salim, who died on November 4, 1954, at the age of 70, was buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta. For his efforts to the country and nation, he received several awards, including the title of National Hero. Agus Salim made a significant contribution to the fight for Indonesia's independence and advancement with his wit, bravery, and extraordinary commitment.

References:

Juniawandahlan. (2017, February 22). Agus Salim. Museum Kebangkitan Nasional. Retrieved from https://kebangkitan-nasional.go.id 

Iqbal, M.Haji Agus Salim. Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset dan Teknologi, Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan, Direktorat Pengembangan dan Pemanfaatan Kebudayaan. https://www.kemdikbud.go.id