The first national flag of Indonesia was sewn by Fatmawati, serving as a symbol of the nation when independence was declared in 1945. She served as the first lady of the country from 1945 until 1967, holding a central role during the early years of the republic’s political and social development.
Early Life and Marriage
Born on 5 February 1923 in Bengkulu, she was the daughter of Hasan Din and Chadijah. Her family lineage included a princess from the Minangkabau kingdom of the Sultanate of Inderapura. In 1943, she married Sukarno, the first president of Indonesia, becoming his third wife. Prior to their union, Sukarno sought a divorce from his previous spouse, Inggit Garnasih, aiming to produce an heir to continue his family name.
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Fatmawati initially maintained a neutral stance regarding marriage law reform. However, her perspective shifted in 1953 when Sukarno opted to take a second wife, Hartini, without divorcing her. This prompted Fatmawati to depart from the presidential palace to reside separately in Jakarta. Although she retained her title as first lady through a settlement, she encountered significant difficulties in securing a religious leader willing to challenge the president on the matter of divorce.
Public Works and Legacy
In 1953, she established the Ibu Soekarno Foundation to provide medical support for children suffering from tuberculosis. She laid the foundation stone for a specialized facility in 1954, though financial delays meant the project did not open until 1961 as a general hospital under the Ministry of Health. It was renamed the Fatmawati Central General Hospital in 1967. She died on 14 May 1980 following a heart attack in Kuala Lumpur while returning from an umra in Mecca, and she is interred at the Karet Bivak Cemetery in Central Jakarta.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 February 1923, Bengkulu
- Died: 14 May 1980, Kuala Lumpur
- Spouse: Sukarno
- Daughter: Megawati Sukarnoputri
- Education: Bandung Institute of Technology
- Award: National Hero of Indonesia
- Burial: Karet Bivak Cemetery, Jakarta
Questions readers ask
What was Fatmawati's role in the Indonesian independence movement?
She created the first national flag of Indonesia, which was flown annually from the declaration of independence in 1945 until 1967.
Why did she move out of the presidential palace?
She moved out in 1953 after her husband, President Sukarno, took another wife, Hartini, opting for polygamy rather than divorce.
