Fatmawati

Fatmawati was the third wife of Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, and the mother of Megawati Sukarnoputri, the fifth president of Indonesia. She was also a National Hero of Indonesia for her role in sewing the first flag of Indonesia, which was raised on August 17, 1945, the day of Indonesia's independence proclamation. She was born in Bengkulu, a city in Sumatra, to a Minangkabau family with royal ancestry. Her father was a businessman and a leader of Muhammadiyah, an Islamic organization. Her mother was a devout Muslim woman who taught her daughter about Islam and nationalism. Fatmawati met Sukarno when she was a teenager and he was a political activist who had been exiled to Bengkulu by the Dutch colonial government. He was already married to Inggit Garnasih, a 53-year-old woman, but he fell in love with Fatmawati and asked for a divorce. After two years, Inggit agreed to let him go and Fatmawati became his third wife in 1943. She followed him to Jakarta, where he led the struggle for Indonesia's independence from the Japanese occupation. She supported him in his political activities and took care of their five children. She also became involved in social and humanitarian work, such as helping the poor, the refugees, and the war victims. She founded the Indonesian Red Cross and the Women's Congress. She was known for her simplicity, modesty, and generosity. She was also a skilled seamstress who made clothes for her family and friends. She was the one who sewed the red and white flag of Indonesia, using a piece of cloth from her sarong and a curtain. She gave the flag to Sukarno, who hoisted it on a bamboo pole in front of his house on the day of the independence declaration. The flag became a symbol of the nation's sovereignty and pride. Fatmawati remained loyal to Sukarno until he decided to take another wife, Hartini, in 1953. She was opposed to polygamy and felt betrayed by his action. She moved out of the presidential palace and lived separately in Jakarta. She still kept the title of First Lady, but she was no longer involved in the state affairs. She focused on raising her children and continuing her social work. She also traveled abroad to visit other countries and attend international conferences. She was respected and admired by many people, both in Indonesia and abroad, for her dignity and grace. She died in 1980 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca. She was buried in Karet Cemetery in Jakarta, next to her husband, who had died ten years earlier. She was honored as a National Hero of Indonesia in 2001 by President Abdurrahman Wahid. Her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren, who have followed her footsteps in politics and public service.