It’s Ibu Inggit’s Jamu That Boosted Bung Karno’s Stamina!

Not many people know that jamu played a big role in the story of Bung Karno’s struggle for Indonesia. So far, what has been mentioned is the story of Bung Karno’s struggle in seizing Indonesian independence. However, the support of the people behind him is not widely publicized, so jamu in the story of Bung Karno’s struggle remained hidden.

Sumber gambar: mediamagelang.pikiran-rakyat.com

It was Inggit Garnasih, Bung Karno’s ex-wife who turned out to be a jamu and beauty powder entrepreneur by profession. When married, Bung Karno’s status was a student of Civil Engineering at the Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng (THS) or now known as the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). Young Soekarno already had an interest in politics and was active in organizations since he was a student. Inggit with her jamu and beauty powder business gave many contributions to finance various struggle movements and political activities carried out by Bung Karno.

Inggit was known to be tenacious and has the skills to make jamu and beauty powders. She has been in this business since before she married Bung Karno. Inggit has five products that are marketed by being deposited in shops around Bandung and sold at home. The five products are bedak kasai (Kasai powder), a cold powder for treating acne, ningrum powder for smoothing the skin, kamu for canker sores, beras kencur, and jamu specifically for women.

Sumber gambar: www.ngaderes.com

Inggit’s powder and jamu were quite famous and have been proven by many people. Inggit used selected ingredients and the production process was taken seriously. Inggit took her role as an entrepreneur seriously. Likewise, his support for Soekarno’s struggle and activities was carried out earnestly and selflessly. In fact, you could say Inggit was one of the important figures behind Soekarno’s footsteps in fighting for Indonesian independence.

Not only financing Soekarno’s struggle for Indonesia’s independence, Inggit also prepared jamu for Soekarno. Even when Soekarno was a prisoner at the Sukamiskin prison in Bandung, Inggit was still faithful to deliver food, books, and did not forget the jamu he made for Soekarno. He made jamu asam for Kusno (her loving call for Bung Karno) so that his voice would not be hoarse after orations from podium to podium.

“When I got home, I had to prepare an asam drink to restore Kusno’s hoarse voice. I brewed orange juice or asam kawak, I myself had to provide it and I myself had to put my big love to sleep, this lion of the stage. He is just like a child who is used to being pampered (Kuantar ke Gerbang; Kisah Cinta Ibu Inggit dengan Bung Karno: Ramadhan K.H., 1981: 104)”

Meski kini jamu dan bedak buatan Inggit tinggal menjadi kisah sejarah, tetapi batu pipisan untuk membuat jamu dan bedak itu masih ada hingga kini. Barang bersejarah itu kini disimpan dan dirawat oleh putra Inggit Garnasih. Sobat dapat melihat replica batu pipisan tersebut yang kini yang disimpan di museum Inggit Garnasih di jalan Inggit Garnasih (Ciateul), Kota Bandung. 

Although now jamu and beauty powder made by Inggit remain a historical story, the stone for making jamu and powder is still there today. The historic item is now being kept and cared for by Inggit Garnasih’s son. You can see a replica of the stone in the Inggit Garnasih museum on Jalan Inggit Garnasih (Ciateul), Bandung City.

References

Mumuh Muhsin Z. 2009. Perjuangan Ibu Inggit Garnasih. Program Studi Ilmu Sejarah, Fakultas Sastra Universitas Padjajaran Bandung

Jamu, Batu, dan Bedak dalam Perjalanan Bung Karno. https://www.beritabaik.id/

Ramadhan K.H. 1981. Kuantar ke Gerbang; Kisah Cinta Ibu Inggit dengan Bung Karno. Jakarta: Sinar Harapan.