Hadji Samanhudi (1868 – 28 December 1956) was the founder of Sarekat Dagang Islam, an organization in

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

that previously served as an association for

batik Batik is a dyeing technique using wax Resist dyeing, resist. The term is also used to describe patterned textiles created with that technique. Batik is made by drawing or stamping wax on a cloth to prevent colour absorption during the dyein ...

traders in

Surakarta Surakarta (Javanese script, Javanese: , Pegon script, Pegon: ), known colloquially as Solo (Javanese script, Javanese: ; ), is a major List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city in Central Java, Indonesia. The city adjoins Karanganyar Reg ...

, and later broadened its scope to nationalist political issues. Born in Lawiyan,

Solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fr ...

as Soedarno Nadi, he was educated until the highschool-equivalent SR (''Sekolah Rakyat'') but he didn't graduate. He then studied

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

Surabaya Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...

. At the same time he began trading in batik. Samanhudi founded Sarekat Dagang Islam, or Islamic Trade Union, in 1911. The Union consists of batik entrepreneurs in East and Central Java with the goal to improve their market hold against Chinese competition. The members of the organization were unified by a common religion, Islam, albeit one with many influences from local mysticism and tradition. Samanhudi remained as its chairman until 1914, two years after

Tjokroaminoto Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto (16 August 1882 – 17 December 1934), better known in Indonesia as H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto, was an Indonesian nationalist. He became one of the leaders of the Islamic Trade Union (), founded by Samanhudi, which became Sar ...

transformed the trading organization into a political one. Since 1920, Samanhudi became inactive in the party. His health declined, but his interest on national movements never calmed down. He retreated from the public spotlight, until after Indonesia's independence, when he resumed his activity. In participation of defending

Republic of Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

against the formerly-colonist Dutch military aggression, Samanhudi formed Solo Branch of Indonesian Rebel Front (''Barisan Pemberontak Indonesia Cabang Solo'') and Pancasila Union Branch (''Cabang Persatuan Pancasila''). When the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

launched the second aggression, he formed an army named Hawk Union Movement (''Gerakan Kesatuan Alap-alap''), which was assigned to provide logistical supplies for union armies fighting in the front line. There were many services he gave when

Indonesian National Revolution The Indonesian National Revolution (), also known as the Indonesian War of Independence (, ), was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during A ...

took place. Samanhudi died in Klaten on 28 December 1956, and was buried in Banaran,

Grogol, Sukoharjo Grogol is a subdistrict (''kecamatan'') in Sukoharjo Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The housing estate, ''Solo Baru'' ("New Solo") is located here and this subdistrict is a satellite city of Surakarta. The Al-Mukmin Islamic school is located ...

References

* Blumberger, J. Th. Petrus. (1931). De Nationalistische Beweging in Nederlandsch-Indië. Haarlem: H.D. Tjeenk Willink & Zoon N.V. * McVey, Ruth T. (1963). ed. Indonesia. New Haven: Human Relations Area Files, Inc. {{DEFAULTSORT:Samanhudi 1868 births 1956 deaths People from Surakarta National Heroes of Indonesia Sarekat Islam politicians Burials in Java