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Family calls for better protection of WR Supratman’s legacy
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Endang Wahyuningsih (center), the great grandniece of national anthem “Indonesia Raya“ composer Wage Rudolf Soepratman poses with other participants after a discussion titled “Commemorating National Music Day 2025 with the Spirit of the National Anthem 'Indonesia Raya'“ at the Culture Ministry in Jakarta on March 9, 2025. The discussion was held in conjunction with National Music Day, which is commemorated every March 9 as a tribute to Supratman's birthday who was born in 1903. (Tempo.co/Tempo/Ihsan Reliubun)
T
he family of Wage Rudolf Soepratman, the composer of the national anthem “Indonesia Raya”, have lamented the neglected condition of the national hero’s violin, kept at the Youth Pledge Museum on Jl. Kramat Raya in Central Jakarta.
The violin’s upkeep relies solely on garlic and eucalyptus oil for preservation. The exhibited violin, however, is merely a replica.
The original instrument is stored in a warehouse located near a kitchen, where people cook instant noodles, an unsuitable and unrepresentative setting for such a historic artifact.
"It's very concerning that WR Supratman’s violin at the Youth Pledge Museum is not kept in a safe and placed in a storage room," one of Supratman’s relatives, Endang Wahyuningsih said at the Culture Ministry in Central Jakarta, on Sunday, as quoted by tempo.co.
Endang is the great-granddaughter of Ngadini Soepratini, the elder sister of Supratman.
Endang visited the Culture Ministry to participate in a discussion titled "Commemorating National Music Day 2025 with the Spirit of the National Anthem ‘Indonesia Raya’", organized by the ministry for National Music Day.
National Music Day is commemorated on March 9 as a tribute to Supratman’s birthday, who was born in 1903.
