Meet Margonda, a Depok Hero Who Died Young
- Istimewa
West Java – Walking around the Depok city, every people must know about Margonda Road. The naming of this main road that connects Depok to Jakarta has a long history.
According to Indonesia Defense site, Margonda, who is estimated to have been born in 1918, was a warrior who died on November 16, 1945 in a heroic battle against the Dutch.
At the end of the Dutch defeat of Japan, in 1942, Margonda had attended a flight course during the Dutch East Indies colonial government. He underwent training with Adi Sucipto, who later became one of the pioneers of the Indonesian Air Force.
Yano Jonathans in his book 'Depok Tempo Doeloe (2011)' mentioned that Margonda worked at an agricultural institute in Bogor during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia.
Jalan Juanda di Kota Depok.
- ANTARA/Foto: Feru Lantara
Then Margonda's fate changed when Indonesian independence was declared on August 17, 1945.
He joined the People's Security Agency (BKR), the forerunner of the Indonesian National Army, when the Dutch re-entered Indonesia with allied forces.
But Margonda's struggle did not last long. Margonda died in a series of events known as Gedoran Depok at a relatively young age. The incident began with a clash that took place in October 1945. Dutch troops repulsed the Indonesian fighters, including Margonda.
According to the Indonesian National Heroes Family Association website, ikpni.or.id, during the battle, Margonda, who was about to throw a grenade, was shot by an enemy bullet.
The grenade that was still in Margonda's grasp then destroyed his own body. The incident took place in the Kalibata area, but not in South Jakarta, but on the border between Kukusan and Sawangan.
Among the Depok heroes, only Margonda's story remains. His name was later immortalized on the Depok City protocol line.
