TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-
Written by: Dara Meutia Uning, great granddaughter of Cut Meutia
I came to know Cut Nyak Meutia from my own name. I am the only one who does not bear any Arabic name among my four siblings. I was jealous because name feels too 'worldly'. I event felt that my parents do not pray enough for me.
"Father wished when he has a daughter, he would name her 'Meutia',” my mother said, "like his great grandmother." Back then, I was in primary school. Mother said that my father’s great grandmother was a brave woman.
When we were children, father would buy us books about our national heroes. One of them is about Cut Meutia. I never recall my father saying that Cut Meutia is his grandmother. I only thought that my grandmother has similar name to Cut Meutia.
When I was in junior high school, my father suddenly displayed a picture of a foreign looking man in the living room. His face looks almost identical to my father. Later, I found out that the man in the picture is Teuku Radja Sabi, Cut Nyak Meutia’s only son, my father's father. He said that he just found that picture in a book about Cut Meutia. My father does not remember his father’s face, who died when he was three years old.
I cannot believe what I heard and immediately read through the book my father had mentioned. I found a family tree printed in the book with my father's name mentioned as one of Cut Meutia's grandson. I still didn't believe it at first, but I finally accepted the truth after hearing explanations from my uncles, aunts and cousins who are living in Aceh.
I told some of my close friends about this. "No wonder you like to wage war, Dar," said one of them jokingly. I just grinned.
Descendant of a hero? I never even dream about that and I don't want to boast about this fact because my father teaches us not to. So, live goes on.
***
Since I discovered about my family's history, I became curious about Cut Nyak Meutia and Aceh women. I diligently read my father’s books about Aceh. Eight years ago, when I researched about former women soldiers, known locally as inong balee, I came to the Ali Hasjmy library in Banda Aceh.
In all of the books I read, Cut Nyak Meutia has always been described as an ideal person, especially in locally published books. Even the Dutch colonial soldiers have also praised her in their reports.
For me, she left deep impressions.
First, her marriages. Cut Meutia had been married three times. Her first marriage was an arranged marriage with Teuku Syamsarif. Back then, arranged marrieage was common practice among Aceh nobility. But they later divorces after Cut Meutia found out that her husband wanted to cooperate with the Dutch colonial government. Cut Meutia then married her Syamsarif's brother, Teuku Muhamad, better known as Teuku Cik di Tunong. He didn’t like the Dutch and had actively fought the Dutch colonial government.
When her second husband died in Dutch captivity and was sentenced to death, Cut Meutia married Pang Nangroe, Teuku Muhamad's confidante. The marriage was Teuku Cik di Tunong's will, so they can continue to fight the Dutch. After a long consideration, even though many uleebalang (Aceh nobility) were ready to propose her, Cut Nyak Meutia chose to follow her late husband's wish. Her decision to not marry a nobleman was unusual. But she stuck to her decision and returned to combat with her third husband in the forests and mountains, ignoring her in-laws' plea to give up and have a peaceful live.
I believed Cut Nyak Meutia's actions reflect her independent spirit. She chose to marry a man based on their ideology and their commitment to the fight. In my own word, she might say "If you are weak and surrender to the Dutch, I will kick you out!" She was very confident and she was comfortable with her own choice, even though that means that she must live hard life in the forest. Getting married and having a comfortable life while the nation’s independence was shackled under colonial rule chain was never part of her plan.
Second, Cut Nyak Meutia was smart and tough. She grew up when the Dutch just destroyed the Banda Aceh Grand Mosque in 1873. The Acehnese resistance got fired up. No wonder she learned how to fight at a young age. She was an expert at the art of war. In addition to be able to plan good battle strategy, she was also a qualified martial artist and weapon master. She did not just act behind the scene (for example, 'just' plan a strategy, taking care of her children or logistics), but she is also present in the frontline to boost her troops’ morale.
In Aceh, men and women help each other in battles. Dutch soldiers have recorded this fact meticulously. They said that Acehnese women had bigger battle spirits that the men. Their fighting prowess are not to be taken lightly. That is the reason I don't believe that Cut Meutia only sat around hiding in the forest and taught her children to recite the Quran while waiting for her husband to return.
You may think "But, she has children?" From the books I have read, while living in the forest Cut Meutia’s only son Teuku Raja Sabi, was raised by the men and women under her command, from the ulema that teach him to read the Quran to his martial art teacher. So, if modern mothers go out to work, to participate in a Quran recitation group or to trade, Cut Nyak Meutia went to battles. "If I don't come back, your task is to continue our fight," that is how she lulled her son to sleep.
Third, Cut Nyak Meutia proved that woman can give so much to the nation without being bound by restricting rules and norms. Women are judged by her contribution to the people, from her sacrifice and dedication to the people. They should not be judged by her clothing or accessories, nor from her wealth and much less her status.
It was told that Cut Nyak Meutia stayed in the woods more often than in a village. She sacrifices her comfortable life as a noblewoman, her two husbands, and her only son when she chose to fight to the death.
People loved her tremendously because of her attitude and her action. She has become a legend. Many stories about her have become myths.
I always imagine her last battle. Mosselman, a Dutch commander who attacked Cut Meutia’s troop’s hideout at the upstream of Krueng Putoe river in 25 October 1920, have provided a detailed account of the battle. Cut Meutia lead her troop with her hair unravelled and a blaring battle cry. She did not relent even though she was outflanked and all her soldiers were dead. Every time they ordered her to surrender, she charged unto her captors, killing two or three soldiers.
Only the bullets that pierced her head and chest can finally stop her. Her body was buried with reverence, although modestly, by the Dutch troop that defeated her. They gave her a military respect for her brave resistance.
That brave woman was my great grandmother. She was our hero.
***
Since the controversy about the new rupiah banknotes erupted, a friend in Aceh said that people will question why Cut Meutia do not wear a hijab. I do not believe it at first. But the issue has spiralled into a wild mess.
For the protesting Acehnese, I try to think positively. Maybe they were complaining because of their deep love to this legendary hero. For others, who said that she should have worn a hijab as she was a religious and strategy expert, I think they lack historical knowledge.
Cut Meutia maybe do not care if she was considered a hero or not. What was important for her is the independence of her country. It is the same for thousands or millions of people who have become a hero for their community or their nations, all over this archipelago.
The most important thing is not the homages for the heroes, but how to preserve their fighting spirit and tenacity. Our nation might not be perfect. We have a rich history full of scars. But as their descendants, we should not be bashing each other down.
The heroism and sacrifices of someone like Cut Nyak Meutia must not be measured by a debate about a piece of cloth. What she has achieved in her lifetime is better than that. Have you sacrificed that much?
This article was featured in Indonesiana
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