During his life Rai often became a leader in his team during his childhood or after. Once Rai and his friend wanted to enter Pura (temple) in Samuan – not far from his village, but they were stopped by the people who had authority on the temple because they were using pants. He asked his friends to take gunny-sacks and they were used as sarong, some of Rai’s friends took kinds of towels as sarong. Of course those people were very angry for that and snapped at Rai. Due to the emotion of a teenager, Rai snapped back at them. Nobody dared to stop him entering the temple. In ± 1940s, he was a lieutenant in Prayoda Corps that belonged to the Dutch which was prepared to face the 2nd World War in Europe. In 1943 when Japan in Bali, he work in MBK (Mitsui Bushan Kaisha). The aim of MBK is to force villagers to give away their rice to Japan. This made Rai hated Japan so much. So, in 1944 Rai and some Balinese youngsters joined PETA, troop to defense the mother land. Here they fight against Japan with an underground resistance movement.

On October 1945 after the Indonesia Independence, BKR (Badan Keamanan Rakyat/People Safety Organization) was made in Bali and then it was integrated with the other organizations that concerned on how to defense the Indonesia Independence into TKR (Tentara Keamanan Rakyat/People Safety Soldier). Rai was a major in TKR. After the invasion of Denpasar on 11 April 1946 and after passing some battles in Badung and Tabanan, the crusader did a consolidation at Mundukmalang on 17 April 1946. Here, Rai decided to consolidate all organization into DPRI (Dewan Perjuangan Republik Indonesia/The Council of Republic of Indonesia’s Struggle) and Rai was chosen to lead DPRI and then he led DPRI Sunda Kecil (Bali and Nusa Tenggara).

Rai really hated a betrayer especially the Kings from Puri (palace) who should encourage his people to defense their homeland; to be a free nation but on the contrary they supported NICA. Although he did not like a traitor but he never trust an issue easily about someone who was accused as a betrayer without finding the truth.

Rai has a small posture but according to Ida Bagus Dosther (one of Bali’s crusaders) there was a power sprayed from his face. Rai had a sharp view, seems that it could reach the niche of the heart. Based on Wayan Dhana (Rai’s friend), Rai was a kind leader but firm. His members were not afraid of him but they all honored him. He never wanted to make a compromise to NICA because Indonesia has got its freedom, so there was no reason for NICA to put their foot down on Indonesia without any permission. This is shown in his letter below:
……….. tg. 18 Mei 1946

Kepada Jth.
Toean Overste Termeulen
di
DENPASAR

MERDEKA!

Soerat telah kami terima dengan selamat. Dengan singkat kami sampaikan djawaban sebagai berikoet:
Tentang keamanan di Bali adala oeroesan kami. Semendjak pendaratan tentara toean, poelau menjadi tidak aman. Boekti telah njata, tidak dapat dipoengkiri lagi. Lihatlah, penderitaan rakjat menghebat. Mengantjam keselamatan rakjat bersama. Tambah2 kekatjauan ekonomi mendjirat leher rakjat.
Keamana terganggoe, karena toean memperkosa kehendak rakjat jang telah menjatakan kemerdekaannja.
Soal peroendingan kami serahkan kepada kebidjakan pemimpin@ di Djawa. Bali boekan tempatnja peroendingan diplomatik. Dan aja boekan kompromis.
Saja atas nama rakjat hanja menghendaki lenjapnja Belanda dari poelau Bali atau kami sanggoep dan berdjandji bertempoer teroes sampai tjita2 kita tertjapai.
Selama toean tinggal di Bali, poelau Bali tetap mendjadi belanga pertoempahan darah, antara kita dan pihak toean.
Sekian, harap mendjadikan makloem adanja

Sekali merdeka, tetap merdeka
a/n. DEWAN PERDJOANGAN BALI
Pemimpin:

(I Goesti Ngoerah Rai)

18 May 1946

To: Mr. Overste Termeulen
at
Denpasar

Freedom!

We have received the letter in good condition. This is our answer shortly:

The security in Bali is our responsibility. Since the coming of your troops, this island is not safe anymore. The proof has revealed, it cannot be denied. Look at the pain of the people is getting worse. It threatens the people’s safety. And the chaos in the economy field strangles the people’s neck.
The safety is bothered because you have neglected the people’s willing who have declared their freedom.
About the negotiation, we will give it to our leaders in Java as it is belong to their policy. Bali is not the place for a diplomatic negotiation and I’m not a negotiator. I on behalf of the Balinese only want the Dutch to disappear from this island or we will and promise to fight until we get our goal.
As long as you stay in Bali, this island will always be the place of bloodshed between us.
Hopefully you can understand it.

Once freedom remains freedom!
On behalf of the Bali Struggle Council.
Leader:

(I Gusti Ngurah Rai)

Source: Orang-orang di Sekitar Pak Rai

As one of the Balinese members I’m proud and happy to have I Gusti Ngurah Rai and the other crusaders as hero. I’m proud of his courageous and sacrifice to his mother land. May his courageous, his sacrifice, and his nationalism feeling become models for all young generations to develop their own country wherever they are.

Source: Orang-Orang di Sekitar Pak Rai
People aorund Pak Rai

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