Who designed the symbol of Indonesia?

It was Sultan Hamid II, the Sultan of Pontianak.

And the story of this gentleman is not pleasant. His name was erased from our nation’s history and his name was not even mentioned in our history book up until the fall of Suharto in 1998.

Although he was born in royal family of Pontianak Sultanate, he was raised by British couple, Salome Fox and Edith Curteis. He was later married to Marie van Delden, daughter of a Dutch captain.

When United States of Indonesia (RIS) was formed, Sultan Hamid II proposed a design for national symbol. It was Garuda, a bird-God of Hindu mythology, the vehicle of Vishnu. The concept was approved by Sukarno whom later appointed Dullah, a famous painter, to redesign the symbol based on the concept.

One interesting thing about Garuda, the original design showed a bald human-like creature. It was later redesigned to be more bird-like, as well as adding hair above its bald head. It is said that its hair were added to avoid the bird looking similar to American bald-eagle.

Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX ordered Sultan Hamid II to be arrested. He was imprisoned and his political rights were stripped. He was later perceived as the villain in Indonesian post-independence history, his name was erased from the history books, and he died in late 1970’s.

If you go to Pontianak make sure to pay a visit Qadriyah Palace, this is the palace that houses royal Pontianak Sultanate family. The palace was built next to River Kapuas, the longest river in Indonesia, near the Kampung Beting, a village that famous for its narcotics and drug-dealing activities.

Before his death, Sultan Hamid II told the royal family to “never let any Garuda symbol, picture, or statue mounted in royal house, until Indonesia recognize sultan’s contribution to the nation.”

I visited the palace a decade ago. By that time, the Garuda was already appeared again on the wall.