Sadness of Haji Agus Salim

Among the Indonesian movement activists, there is no denying the expertise of Haji Agus Salim (HAS) in debating and processing words. Throughout his career, who knows how many hundreds of his discussion opponents have brought to their knees and cornered. Usually this was done by the Minang man in a funny way.

One day in the 1920's. Haji Agus Salim once received humiliation from the communists. On purpose, several young activists of the Red Syarekat Islam (SI) came to a meeting where Haji Agus Salim was the main speaker. There was no intention to listen to Haji Agus Salim's speech. They just wanted to make the atmosphere of the meeting chaotic.

"You know, these young people were being flirtatious intellectually," said Agustanzil Sjahroezah, one of Haji Agus Salim's grandchildren.

According to Agus, the way they interfere was very provocative and rude. Every time Haji Agus Salim (who has a long beard like an old goat) spoke, the young people on the left responded in unison with the voice: 'embeeekkkkkk'. One time silenced. Likewise the second time. However, as soon as the third time the congregational chants were heard, Haji Agus Salim calmly raised his hand. His speech took a turn.

"Wait a minute. For me, it is a very pleasant thing that even the goats are willing to come into this room to hear my speech. It's just a shame, they don't understand human language so they interrupt in an inappropriate way. Meanwhile, they must leave this room to just enjoy the grass in the field. After the speech I address to the humans is finished, please let them come back in and I will make a speech in goat language especially for them. Please note, in Islam, goats also have their own rights. Since I speak many languages, I will fulfill their rights."

For the sake of hearing those words, the people presented there overjoyed in laughter. As for the young people, instead of being able to embarrass Haji Agus Salim, they seemed to have become a 'group of clowns' for being the laughing stock of the people.

But there was one time the grim and witty Haji Agus Salim once looked sad. It happened at the end of January 1946. When Haji Agus Salim heard the news of his 5th child, Achmad Sjewket Salim died in a battle with Japanese troops in Lengkong, Tangerang.

"Paatje was deeply saddened by the death of Sjewket because previously Sjewket, who was always sickly, had been banned from entering the Tangerang Military Academy," said the late Bibsy Soenharjo (Siti Asia), one of Haji Agus Salim's daughters.

Haji Agus Salim has been so saddened by Sjewket's death since the event of his death. He was often seen wearing worn military jackets. Including when he led a team of diplomats from the Republic of Indonesia to Egypt in 1947.

Of course all the team members were curious about the custom. However, according to M. Zein Hassan, no one dared to directly ask him about this habit.

One night, while all members of the Indonesian delegation were sitting on the veranda above the Hotel Continental Cairo to enjoy the silver moonlight, Haji Agus Salim suddenly sang aloud a song of struggle.

"All of us present were silent as if amazed," said M. Zein Hassan in his book Diplomacy of the Indonesian Revolution Abroad.

Silence engulfed the atmosphere as soon as the song was finished. Haji Agus Salim himself was silent and suddenly bursted into tears. Again no one dared to ask or start a conversation. The silence was broken again by his own voice.

"That's the song my son was singing, when a Japanese bullet pierced his chest…" said Haji Agus Salim in a hoarse tone.

A moment later, Haji Agus Salim was silent again. Then, as a few seconds passed, he broke the silence, pointing at the old military jacket he wore every day in Egypt.

"This dress was what he wore when he fell into a martyr," he said.

The death of Ahmad Sjewket Salim (1921-1946), indeed cannot be separated from his life. It could be that he had time to feel sorry for 'failing' to forbid his son from becoming a soldier. According to historian Rushdy Hoesein who had heard directly from Sjewket's younger brother, Islam Salim, Haji Agus Salim once advised Sjewket to fight through other paths. After all, the struggle to defend the proclamation of independence does not have to go through being a soldier.

"But, as a young man who was eager to fight, Sjewket secretly enrolled at the Tangerang Military Academy and graduated until he died with his commander, Major Daan Mogot," said Rushdy.