Part 1

I Gusti Ngurah Rai bestowed the National Hero award due to his sacrifice towards his nation, Indonesia, in the battle of Margarana against the Dutch. He was killed in the battle on 20th November in 1946 with his Ciung Wanara troop which included 95 soldiers. His name is immortalized as the name of the International Airport in Bali, name of street, campus, and sport centre to commemorate him.

Red: Gusti Ngurah Rai, Blue: Dr. Anak Agung Made Djelantik, 1931, from flickr.com/photos/wibisono/

I Gusti Ngurah Rai was born on Wednesday, wuku (seven-day week in the Balinese 210-day calendar — one traditional year consists of 30 wukus) Kelawu, 30th January 1917, in Carangsari Village, ± 24 km to the north from Denpasar. His father’s name is I Gusti Ngurah Patjung, was a Manca (head of the sub-district) and his mother is I Gusti Ayu Kompyang. His childhood name was I Gusti Ngurah Gejor (shake) because a great earthquake was going on when he was born and then changed into Ngurah Rai in his school period.

He was a friendly boy. He usually invited his friends to his place in Puri (residence of an aristocrat) Carangsari and played together. His favorite game was wrestling and Rai was known for his skill on it. The hobby of wrestling afterwards led him to learn and teach Pencak Silat (Indonesian self-defense art) in Bali. He liked playing more than studying, and this attitude made his mother mad on him but actually Rai is a smart and diligent student. It was shown while he studied in HIS (Hollandse Indische School – of the same level as current primary school) in Denpasar, then he continued studying in MULO (Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs – of the same level as current junior high school) in Malang but he never finished it due to his father’s death in 1935 which made him returned to Bali. In 1938 he followed Officier Corp Prajoda Schooling in Gianyar which was held by the Dutch Kingdom military. Most of his instructors loved him in this school except Sergeant Major de Vost. He was firmly jealous with Rai’s talent and it forced Rai to bring small knife or any other small weapon to protect him inside or outside the class.

The hostilities stopped accidentally in a unique occasion when Sergeant Major de Vost brought his students to see “De Eagle”, an England warship which anchored at Padangbai bay in Karangasem (state East of Denpasar) closer. He had to explain about the warship in English, but he couldn’t speak English. Instead of laughing at him Rai helped him to give the explanation in English and because of Rai’s kindness his hate on Rai disappeared.

To be continued…

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