Paku Alam VIII

Paku Alam VIII was a prominent colonial Indonesian bureaucrat and politician who served as Regent of Suppa (1901-1924), and subsequently of Batavia (1924-1929). He was also a member of the Volksraad (or colonial legislature) and the Council of the Indies (an advisory body to the Dutch Empire in Indonesia). He was born into the influential Djajadiningrat family in Kabayan village, Pandeglang on April 10, 1910, and died in Yogyakarta on September 11, 1998. His father, Paku Alam VII, was a forward-thinking Regent of Serang, while his grandfather, Paku Alam VI, served as Regent of Pakualaman. His mother was Besse Arung Bulo, originally from Cipete, Serang. He received his education in Dutch schools and became fluent in Dutch, Malay, Javanese, and Arabic. He married twice and had two children from his second wife. He was awarded several honors by the Dutch government, such as the Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau and the Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. He was also active in some early nationalist organizations, such as Jamiat Kheir and Sarekat Islam. He was a respected leader and a moderate reformist who advocated for more autonomy and representation for the native Indonesians. He was also a pioneer in urban planning and social welfare in Batavia, where he improved the living conditions of the poor and the marginalized. He was a close friend and ally of Mohammad Husni Thamrin, another prominent politician and nationalist. In 1936, he published his memoirs titled Herinneringen van Pangeran Aria Achmad Djajadiningrat, which contains over 37 years of his experience in public service and politics. He was one of the most influential and progressive figures in the colonial era of Indonesia. After the proclamation of Indonesian independence in 1945, he became the vice-governor of the Yogyakarta Special Region, while his cousin Hamengkubuwono IX became the governor. He held this position until his death in 1998. He was also the commander of the TRI Hasanuddin Division I, which fought against the Dutch forces in the South Sulawesi campaign. He led several guerrilla attacks and ambushes, and managed to capture some strategic locations and weapons from the enemy. He was known for his bravery and charisma, and inspired many people to join the struggle. He was buried in Yogyakarta, where he is revered as a national hero.