National Monument or popularly
abbreviated Monas monument or memorial is as high as 132 meters (433 feet),
which was established in memory of the resistance and the Indonesian people's
struggle for independence from Dutch colonial rule. The construction of this
monument began on August 17th, 1961 under the orders of president Sukarno, and
opened to the public on July 12, 1975. This monument crowned flame coated gold
leaf symbolizing the fighting spirit blazing. The National Monument is located
right in the center of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta. Monuments and museums
are open every day from 08.00 - 15.00 pm. On Monday last week of each month is
closed to the public.
After the central government
of the Republic of Indonesia returned to Jakarta after previously located in
Yogyakarta in 1950 following the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic
of Indonesia by the Dutch government in 1949, President Sukarno began planning
the construction of a national monument that is equivalent to the Eiffel Tower
on the ground right in front of the Palace. Development aims Monas monument
commemorate and preserve the Indonesian struggle for independence during the
revolution of 1945, in order to continue to inspire patriotism and spirit of
the next generation.
On August 17, 1954 a national
committee was formed and a national monument design competition held in 1955.
There are 51 works entered, but only one works made by Frederich Silaban that
meet the specified criteria the committee, among other things describes the
character of the Indonesian nation and can survived for centuries. The second
contest was held in 1960 but again none of the 136 participants who meet the
criteria. Chairman of the jury then asked Silaban to show his design to
Sukarno. But Sukarno does not like the design of it, and he wanted the monument
was shaped phallus and yoni. Silaban then asked to design a monument with a
theme like that, but the design of the proposed Silaban so extraordinary that
the cost is very large and unable to be borne by the state budget, especially
when the economic situation was bad enough. Silaban reject designing smaller
building, and suggested the construction be delayed until the Indonesian
economy improves. Sukarno then asked the architect R.M. Soedarsono to resume
the draft. Soedarsono enter the numbers 17, 8 and 45, August 17, 1945
symbolizes the start of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, into the
design of the monument itu.Tugu National Memorial was later built in an area of
80 hectares. This monument diarsiteki by Friedrich Silaban and RM Soedarsono,
began construction August 17, 1961.
Development consists of three
stages. The first phase, the period 1961/1962 - 1964/1965 begins with the
official start of construction on August 17, 1961 with Sukarno ceremonially
plugging concrete pegs first. A total of 284 concrete pegs are used as the building
foundation. A total of 360 pegs implanted earth for the foundations of national
history museum. Overall foundation erection completed in 1962. Bulan Maret Wall
museum at the base of the building was completed in October. Obelisk
construction was then started and finally completed in August 1963.
Construction of the second phase took place on kurun1966 until 1968 due to the
movement of 30 September 1965 (G-30-S / PKI) and a coup attempt, this stage was
delayed. The final stage took place in 1969-1976 by adding a diorama in the
museum's history. Although the development has been completed, the problem
still occurs, such as a water leak that flooded the museum. Monument officially
opened to the public and was inaugurated on July 12, 1975 oleh Presiden Republic
of Indonesia Suharto. The location of
the monument is known as Merdeka Square. Field Monas experienced five times the
renaming is a field Gambir, Ikada Stadium, Merdeka Square, National Monument,
and Monument Park. All around the monument there is a garden, two ponds and
some open field where exercising. On days off Merdeka recreation filled with
visitors who enjoy the scenery Monas and perform various activities in the
park.
Monas design based on the
concept of universal eternal partner; Lingga and Yoni. Monument towering
obelisk is a phallus that symbolizes male, masculine elements that are active
and positive, and symbolize the day. While the court of the cup runway is Yoni
obelisk symbolizing female, feminine element that is passive and negative, as
well as symbolizing the night. Phallus and yoni, the symbol of fertility and
harmonious unity complementary since prehistoric Indonesia. In addition Monas
forms can also be interpreted as a pair of "alu" and
"Dimples", pestle rice found in every household Indonesian
traditional farmers. Thus the design of the full dimensions of a typical
monument of Indonesian culture. Monument obelisk consists of 117.7 meters above
the runway as high as the 17 meter square, court of the cup. This monument is
lined with Italian marble.
Swimming in Taman Medan
Merdeka Utara measuring 25 x 25 meters was designed as part of the air
conditioning system as well as enhance the appearance of Monument Park. Nearby
are the fountain and statue of Prince Diponegoro who was riding his horse, made
of bronze weighing 8 tons. The statue was created by Italian sculptor, Prof.
Coberlato as a donation by the Consulate General of Honores, Dr. Mario Bross in
Indonesia. The entrance monument located at Medan Merdeka Utara park near the statue
of Prince Diponegoro. The entrance through a tunnel that is 3 m below the park
and cross the street this Monument, visitors' entrance to the memorial
monument. Ticket booth located at the end of the tunnel. When visitors climb
back up to ground level on the north side of the monument, visitors can
continue walking around looking at the history of the struggle of Indonesian
relief; into the museum of national history through the door in the northeast
corner, or straight up into the middle towards the independence or the elevator
to the top court monuments.
At each corner of the outer
courtyard that surrounds the monument there is a relief depicting the history
of Indonesia. Relief is started in the northeast corner to perpetuate the glory
of the archipelago in the past; Singhasari historical displays and Majapahit.
This relief continues chronologically clockwise toward the corner of the
southeast, southwest, and northwest. Chronologically describe the Dutch
colonial period, the resistance of the Indonesian people and national heroes
Indonesia, the formation of a modern organization that is fighting for an
independent Indonesia in the early 20th century, the Youth Pledge, Japanese
occupation and World War II, the proclamation of Indonesian independence followed
by revolution and war of independence of the Republic Indonesia, until it
reaches the period of development of modern Indonesia. Reliefs and sculptures
made of cement with a pipe or metal framework, but some of the sculptures and
statues looked unkempt and damaged by rain and tropical weather.
At the base of the monument at
a depth of 3 meters below ground level, there is the National History Museum of
Indonesia. Great space history museum national struggle with the size of 80 x
80 meters wide, can accommodate about 500 people visitors. Large marble room
there are 48 dioramas on all four sides and 3 diorama in the middle, so that a
total of 51 dioramas. This diorama showing the history of Indonesia since the
pre-history up to the New Order. This diorama dimula from the northeast corner
of moving clockwise trace the history of Indonesia; start the pre-history, the
ancient imperial period as Srivijaya and Majapahit, followed by Europeans
during the colonial period that followed the resistance of the national hero of
the pre-independence against the VOC and the Dutch government. Diorama
continued until the Indonesian national movement of the early 20th century, the
Japanese occupation, the war of independence and the revolutionary period,
until the New Order era during the reign of Suharto.
On the inside of the cup there
is a monument of Independence of the amphitheater-shaped space. This room can
be achieved through the spiral stairs from the north and south side of the
door. The room holds symbols of state and independence of the Republic of
Indonesia. Among the original text of the Proclamation of Indonesian
Independence stored in a glass case in the gilded gates, the symbol of the
state of Indonesia, a map of the islands of the Republic of Indonesia plated
gold, white and red flag, and the walls are inscribed the text of the
Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia. In the space of
Independence National Monument is used as a quiet room and meditate for a
moment of silence in memory of the nature of freedom and the struggle of the
Indonesian nation. The original manuscript proclamation of Indonesian
independence stored in a glass case in the gilded gates. Mechanical door is
made of bronze weighing 4 tons of gold plated decorated with carved flowers
symbolizing eternity Wijaya Kusuma, and the lotus flower that symbolizes
purity. This door is located on the west side of the wall right in the middle
of the room and the black marble. The door is known as the Gate of
Independence, which mechanically opens while play the song "In thee
Affairs" followed later by a recorded voice read out the text of the
proclamation middle Sukarno on 17 August 1945. On the south side there is a
statue of Garuda Pancasila, Indonesia's national symbol made of bronze weighing
3 , 5 ton and gold plated. On the east side there is a written copy of the
proclamation lettered bronze, this side should display the flag of the most
sacred and exalted Sang Saka Merah Putih, originally flown on August 17, 1945.
However, because the condition is getting old and frail, holy flag is not
displayed. The north side of this black marble wall featuring gold-plated
archipelago, symbolizing the location of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.
An elevator (lift) on the
south side of the entrance will take visitors to the top court measuring 11 x
11 meters at an altitude of 115 meters above the ground. The elevator is a
transport capacity of 11 people. The top court can accommodate about 50 people,
and there are binoculars for a closer look at the panorama Jakarta. At around
the body there are elevators emergency staircase made of iron. From the top of
the monument Monas courtyard, visitors can enjoy spectacular views across the
city. When the weather conditions without smog, in the direction of the south
to be seen from a distance Mount Salak in Bogor regency, West Java, stretching
north towards the open sea with small islands.
National Monument at the top
of the cup there is a flame that sustains bronze weighing 14.5 tons and 35
Kilograms of gold coated. Flame or torch, measuring 14 meters high and 6 meters
in diameter consisting of 77 sections joined together. Flame is a symbol of the
spirit of the struggle of the Indonesian people who want to achieve
independence. Initially this bronze flame coated sheet gold weighing 35
kilograms, but to welcome the celebration of half a century (50 years)
Indonesian independence in 1995, the gold sheet is recoated to reach the weight
of 50 kilograms of gold leaf. Top of the monument in the form of "Fire Nan
unflagging" which means that the Indonesian nation always has a fiery
spirit in the struggle and never recede or extinguished all time. Court of the
cup gave sights for visitors from a height of 17 meters from the ground. Court
of the cup can be reached via elevator when descending from the top court, or
through the stairs to the bottom cup. High court of the cup from the bottom 17
meters, while the height ranges between the museum space to the history of the
cup base is 8 m (3 meters below ground plus 5 meter ladder to the bottom of the
cup). Spacious courtyard of the square, measuring 45 x 45 meters, all of which
are the preservation of the sacred number of the Proclamation of Independence
(17-8-1945).
A total of 28 kg of 38 kg of
gold at Monas torch is a contribution from Markam Teuku, an entrepreneur Aceh
who had been one of the richest people in Indonesia.
(source https://id.wikipedia.org)
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