Skip to main content

Imam Bonjol

Tuanku Imam Bonjol (also Muhammad Shahab) (1772 – November 6, 1864), was a hero in the Indonesian struggle against Dutch rule. He was born in the village of Tanjung Bunga in the Pasaman regency of West Sumatra. His father's name was Buya Nudin. He was immersed in Islamic studies as he grew up, studying first from his father and later under various other Muslim theologians.


After founding the state of Bonjol, Syarif became involved in the Adat/Paderi controversy as a Paderi leader. The Paderi movement, which has been compared to the Wahhabi school of Islam in Saudi Arabia, was an effort to return the Islam of the area to the purity of its roots by removing local distortions like gambling, cockfighting, the use of opium and strong drink, tobacco, and so forth. It also opposed the powerful role of women in the matrilineal Minangkabau culture. The Adat, or traditionalist, position was that local custom that pre-dated the arrival of Islam should also be respected and followed.

Feeling their leadership position threatened, the traditionalists appealed to the Dutch for help in their struggle against the Paderis. At first, the Dutch were not able to win militarily against the Paderis because their resources were stretched thin by the Diponegoro resistance in Java. In 1824, the Dutch signed the Masang Agreement ending hostilities with the state of Bonjol.

Subsequently, however, once the Diponegoro resistance was suppressed, the Dutch attacked the state of Pandai Sikat in a renewed effort to gain control of West Sumatra. Despite valiant fighting by the Indonesians (by this time the traditionalists had realized they didn't want to be ruled by the Dutch either and had joined forces with the Paderis in their resistance), the overwhelming power of the Dutch military eventually prevailed. Syarif was captured in 1832 but escaped after three months to continue the struggle from his tiny fortress in Bonjol.

After three years of siege, the Dutch finally managed to sack Bonjol on August 16, 1837. Through a negotiation ruse, the Dutch again captured Syarif and exiled him, first to Cianjur in West Java, then to Ambon, and later to Manado in Sulawesi. He died on November 6, 1864, at the age of 92 and is buried in Sulawesi. The site of his grave is marked by a Minangkabau (West Sumatran) house.
Labels:

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 13, 2010 at 7:34 PM

    Al-Fatihah for Tuanku Imam Bonjol The Legend.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

History Of Binter

The Binter (short for "Bintang Terang" which translates to "Bright Star" in Indonesian) is a significant part of Indonesia's automotive history, particularly in the context of motorcycles. Binter motorcycles became well-known in the Indonesian market during the 1980s and 1990s and played an essential role in the everyday lives of many Indonesians. ### Origins and Development 1. **Introduction to Indonesia:**    - Binter motorcycles were introduced to the Indonesian market in the early 1980s. They were originally manufactured by Kawasaki, a well-known Japanese motorcycle company, and were rebranded as Binter for the Indonesian market. This rebranding was part of a strategic partnership with local businesses to cater to the specific needs and preferences of Indonesian consumers. 2. **Popularity and Adoption:**    - The Binter motorcycles quickly gained popularity due to their reliability, affordability, and suitability for the varied Indonesian terrain. The motorc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Largest Islands in Indonesia: From Largest to Smallest

Indonesia, an archipelago in Southeast Asia, is the world's largest island country, consisting of more than 17,000 islands. These islands vary greatly in size, from massive landmasses like Sumatra and Borneo to tiny islets scattered across the oceans. Here's a detailed look at the largest islands in Indonesia, ranked from the largest to the smallest. 1. New Guinea (Papua) Area : Approximately 785,753 square kilometers (Indonesian portion: 421,981 square kilometers) Description : New Guinea, known as Papua in Indonesia, is the second-largest island in the world after Greenland. It is shared between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The Indonesian part comprises the provinces of Papua, West Papua, South Papua, Central Papua, and Highland Papua. The island is famous for its diverse cultures and rich biodiversity, with dense rainforests, rugged mountain ranges, and a significant number of endemic species. 2. Borneo (Kalimantan) Area : Approximately 748,168 square kilometers (Indonesi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir (also Abu Bakar Bashir) was born in Jombang, East Java in August 17, 1938. He was a student of Gontor Islamic boarding school in Ponorogo, graduating in 1959, before entering Al-Irsyad University, in Solo, Central Java and graduating in 1963.
Post a Comment
Read more