Mohammad Hatta and the Struggle of Indigenous Intellectuals Toward Indonesian Independence
Highlighting the Role of the Educated Class in the National Movement
Abstract
This study is motivated by the limited scholarly attention given to the role of indigenous intellectuals, particularly Mohammad Hatta, in the struggle for Indonesian independence, despite their substantial influence in shaping the national movement. The study aims to examine the contributions of Mohammad Hatta as a leading figure of the educated indigenous class and to explore how intellectuals played a pivotal role in fostering nationalism and nonviolent resistance strategies. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research utilizes historical literature review methods based on primary and secondary sources, including speeches, writings, archival documents, and historical records. The analysis is conducted through a historical and critical lens. The findings reveal that Hatta was not only a thinker and organizer but also a symbol of the shifting role of the educated elite in advocating independence through diplomacy, political education, and international cooperation. These findings emphasize the significance of intellectuals in the decolonization process and the development of national ideology. The study concludes that the contribution of educated indigenous figures like Hatta laid a foundational role in the birth of an independent Indonesia. The implications include strengthening historical literacy and enriching civic education rooted in the intellectual legacy of the nation's founders.
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