Wednesday, August 5, 2026

A00081 - Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto, Indonesian Nationalist Who Became One of the Leaders of the Islamic Trade Union Which Became Sarekat Islam

 Tjokroaminoto

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Raden Mas
Haji
Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto
Born16 August 1882
Ponorogo, Dutch East Indies
Died17 December 1934 (aged 52)
Yogyakarta, Dutch East Indies
CitizenshipIndonesian
TitleFounder and chairman of Sarekat Islam
SpouseSuharsikin
Children5

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Tjokroaminoto (Raden Mas) (Hadji Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto) (b. August 16, 1882, Desa Bakur, Madiun, Java – December 17, 1934, Jogjakarta). Indonesian political leader. Raden Mas Haji Umar Said Tjokroaminoto was born in the village of Bakur, Madiun. After completing his education he was employed as secretary to the patih of Ngawi. In 1906, he moved to Surabaya, where he became chairman of the local Budi Utomo branch. In May 1912, he entered Sarekat Islam, where he soon rose to prominence. He became its deputy chairman and later its president and represented it in the Volksraad (1918-1921). In 1927, he refused a seat in the Volksraad. His charismatic personality and oratory skills made him the most popular Sarekat Islam leader. He attracted large crowds. In their youth a number of nationalistic leaders, among them Sukarno, were influenced by him. In 1926, he represented the Sarekat Islam at a world Islamic conference in Mecca. He served as an editor of severa periodicals, such as Utusan Hindia, Al-Islam, Fadjar Asia, and Al-Djihad.

The Sarekat Dagang Islām (Association of Islāmic Traders), established in 1911 to promote the interests of Indonesian traders faced with growing Chinese competition, was reorganized as Sarekat Islām the following year by Tjokroaminoto. He broadened the focus of the group, greatly expanding its appeal, and organized it along Western lines. There were, however, substantial non-Western elements.

Tjokroaminoto, who had a powerful personality, became widely popular among Javanese peasants. By 1914 he had become the central figure of a messianic movement, and the Sarekat Islām had taken on strong mystical overtones. He was not a strong leader, however, and he failed to reinforce his popular appeal with a clear, consistent policy. His concern for the need for unity against Dutch rule led him to make compromises, while other groups with more coherent programs were politically more effective. In 1918 he became a member of the Volksraad.

In the early years of Sarekat Islām, Tjokroaminoto came into contact with a number of young nationalists, among whom was Sukarno, who became the first president of Indonesia. Tjokroaminoto tutored Sukarno, who also married his daughter. After 1920 Tjokroaminoto’s fortunes declined. He was jailed by the Dutch in 1921 on a charge of perjury but was released in 1922. By 1923 Sukarno, who had ended his marriage, had broken politically with Tjokroaminoto and adopted a more radical position. They were later reconciled, and in 1926 Sukarno wrote for Bandera Islām (“Flag of Islām”), a journal edited by Tjokroaminoto after his release from prison. But his passive and conciliatory positions prevented Tjokroaminoto from ever regaining the power and influence he had held in the early days of Sarekat Islām.
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Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto (EYD: Umar Said Cokroaminoto; 16 August 1882 – 17 December 1934),[1] better known in Indonesia as H.O.S. Tjokroaminoto, was an Indonesian nationalist. He became one of the leaders of the Islamic Trade Union (Indonesian: Syarekat Dagang Islam), founded by Samanhudi, which became Sarekat Islam, which they both cofounded.[2][3]

Early life

Tjokroaminoto was born the second of twelve children,[1]: 12  in the Ponorogo Regency as the son of RM. Tjokroaminoto (district chief of Kleco), grandson of RMA. Tjokronegoro (regent of the Ponorogo Regency), and great-grandson of Kyai Bagus Kasan Besari of Tegalsari pesantren. According to his genealogy, his education was directed towards civil service.

After graduating in 1902 from OSVIA (Dutch: Opleiding School Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren), a school for indigenous civil servants, in Magelang, the then-highest civil servant education institution, he worked as one in Ngawi for three years from 1902 to 1905).[1] He moved to Surabaya, where he met Samanhudi, founder and leader of the Islamic Trade Unions (SDI).[1] At night, he attended Burgerlijke Avond School (BAS) for some years. After graduating, he worked in a sugar refinery (1907–1912). He wrote for the Bintang Soerabaja (Surabaya Star) daily and became a staff assistant.

Known as the "Crownless King of Java" (Dutch: De Ongekroonde van Java) by the Dutch, Tjokroaminoto was one of the pioneers of the trade union movement in Indonesia and was a teacher of some of the most well-known leaders of Indonesia. His political ideas also gave birth to various ideologies of Indonesia at that time, when he tutored students in his household, such as Semaoen, Alimin, Musso, Sukarno, Kartosuwiryo, and even Tan Malaka. He was the first to refuse to submit to the Netherlands. After he died, the colors of the Indonesian movement were developed by his students, the socialists and communists embraced by Semaoen, Musso, and Alimin.

One of his most famous quotes was "Highest education, purest tauhid, smartest of strategies" (Indonesian: Setinggi-tinggi ilmu, semurni-murni tauhid, sepintar-pintar siasat), depicting the atmosphere of Indonesian struggle in its time which required the three aforementioned abilities of a freedom fighter. Of the various students he liked most was Sukarno until he married Sukarno with his daughter Siti Oetari, Sukarno's first wife. His message to his disciples was "If you want to be a great Leader, write like a journalist and talk like an orator". These words influenced his disciples to make Sukarno shout every night to learn the speeches to make his friends, Musso, Alimin, SM Kartosuwiryo, Darsono, and others wake up and laugh to watch it.

Formation of Islamic unions

Sarekat Dagang Islam

Samanhudi had founded Sarekat Dagang Islam (SDI) or the Islamic Trade Union, in late 1905, in Surakarta. Tjokroaminoto was asked to prepare the needed regulations for the organization and to handle the management. The statute was prepared and notarized in Surabaya on 10 September 1906.

Sarekat Islam

At Tjokroaminoto's suggestion, the word trade (Indonesian: dagang) in the organization's name was removed and SDI became Sarekat Islam (SI) or the Islamic Union.[1] Its chairman was H. Samanhudi, while Tjokroaminoto became chairman. A few days later, its statute was sent to the Governor-General to be legalized as a legal institution.

A central committee was formed with Samanhudi as chairman and Tjokroaminoto as vice-chairman. In explaining the organization's aim, Tjokroaminoto stated that SI would not oppose the Dutch East Indies government. For the organization's interest, he and other managers went to the then Governor-General Alexander Willem Frederik Idenburg on 29 March 1913. Idenburg stated that for public importance (Dutch: algemeen belang), SI's legalization couldn't be granted, but local Islamic unions can be granted corporate-body status.

The membership of SI rapidly increased, to about two and a half million.[1]

Centraal Sarekat Islam

Because of the rapid development of local Islamic unions, it was necessary to establish a central Islamic union coordinating them. In 1915, the Central Islamic Union, or Centraal Sarekat Islam (CSI) was founded with Tjokroaminoto as its chairman, Abdoel Moeis as vice-chairman, and Samanhoedi as honorary chairman. Since then, Tjokroaminoto was continuously chairman or a member of the SI board of administration until his death.

The first CSI national congress, simultaneously being the third SI congress, during his chairmanship was held in Bandung in June 1916. The usage of the word national signified the issue Tjokroaminoto had voiced, which was the necessity of unity of all Indonesians. SI gained acknowledgment of its power with the inauguration of Tjokroaminoto and Abdoel Moeis as members of the newly opened Volksraad in 1918.

SI under Tjokroaminoto progressed, but inner opposition arose, while the colonial government's trust decreased. The hardest challenge came from the Marxist/Leninist faction led by Semaun, who faced off against Tjokroaminoto. Eventually, the Marxist–Leninist faction broke off and formed SI-Merah ("Red-SI"), which later joined the Communist Party of Indonesia.

In 1921, Tjokroaminoto was arrested for the charge of assassination by SI-afd. B[clarification needed] in Cimareme, Garut, West Java. He was released around 9 months later without trial in August 1922.[4]

Partai Sarekat Islam

CSI became weak, and its name was changed to Partai Sarekat Islam (PSI) or the Islamic Union Party in February 1923. Tjokroaminoto made an effort to unite the outer Javanese groups.[clarification needed] After propaganda attacks were sent, insurgency broke out wherever, until he and Abdoel Moeis were forbidden to visit some areas. At that time, Pan-Islamism was launched. Tjokroaminoto and Mas Mansoer performed Hajj.

The political suggestion of hijra or "migration" with the non-cooperative attitude toward the colonial government was eventually accepted by Congress, which caused Tjokroaminoto's refusal when he was elected as Volksraad's member in 1927. The Ulema Committee was founded to discuss Tjokroaminoto's controversial Qur'anic interpretations in 1928.

Partai Syarikat Islam Indonesia

Later the PSI was changed to the Indonesian Islamic Union Party or Partai Syarikat Islam Indonesia (PSII) in early 1929. There was a confrontation between the nationalist Soekiman and the religious Tjokroaminoto that led to Soekiman's departure to form a new party, the Indonesian Islamic Party or Partai Islam Indonesia.

Death

After the 20th PSII Congress in Banjarmasin in May 1934, Tjokroaminoto became sick and died in Yogyakarta on 17 December 1934. His position in PSII was succeeded by his brother Abikusno Tjokrosujoso.

A film titled Teacher of the Nation: Tjokroaminoto (Indonesian: Guru Bangsa: Tjokroaminoto) was made about Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto. The film, produced in 2015, was directed by Garin Nugroho, with the main character as Reza Rahardian.[5]

References

  1.  Mahawira, Pranadipa (2013-01-01). Cinta Pahlawan Nasional Indonesia: Terlengkap & Terupdate (in Indonesian). WahyuMedia. pp. 12–13. ISBN 9789797957513.
  2.  Tarling, Nicholas (2000-01-28). The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press. p. 236. ISBN 978-0521663717.
  3.  Ooi, Keat Gin (2004-10-13). Southeast Asia: a historical encyclopedia, from Angkor Wat to East Timor. Vol. 3. ABC-CLIO. pp. 1180, 1226, 1334. ISBN 978-1576077702.
  4.  "Museum HOS Tjokroaminoto: Jejak Sejarah dan Inspirasi bagi Generasi Muda". aadtoday.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  5.  "Coming Soon Guru Bangsa Tjokroaminoto". Tjokro Movie (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-07-16.

Further reading

  • Mirnawat (2012). Kumpulan Pahlawan Indonesia Terlengkap (in Indonesian). Cerdas Interaktif, 2012. ISBN 9789797883430.

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A00080 - John Esposito, American Academic Who Was a Scholar of Islamic Studies

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John Esposito
Esposito, c. 1983
Born
John Louis Esposito

May 19, 1940
New York City, U.S.
Died (aged 86)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationsAcademic, editor, writer
Spouse
Jean Esposito
​
(m. 1965)​
Academic background
EducationSt Antony's College, Oxford (BA)
St John's University (MA)
Temple University (PhD)
InfluencesIsmail al-Faruqi
Academic work
DisciplineMiddle Eastern, religious, Islamic studies
InstitutionsGeorgetown University
Notable works
The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, Islam: The Straight Path
Signature

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John Louis Esposito (May 19, 1940 – July 15, 2026)[1] was an American academic who was a professor of Middle Eastern and religious studies, as well as a scholar of Islamic studies.[2] He served as professor of religion, international affairs, and Islamic studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Esposito was also the founding director of the Prince Alwaleed Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding at Georgetown.

Early life and education

Esposito was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1940.[3] He was a Catholic and came from an Italian-American family.[4][5]

Esposito gained a BA in philosophy at St Antony's College, Oxford, in 1963. He gained an MA in theology at St John's University in 1966. He gained his doctorate at Temple University in 1974 with Islamic Studies as his major and comparative religions as his minor. He completed his doctoral studies under the supervision of the influential Islamic scholar Isma'il Raji al-Faruqi.[3]

Academic career

For nearly 20 years after completing his Ph.D., Esposito taught religious studies (including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam) at the College of the Holy Cross, a 4-years Jesuit college in Massachusetts. At the College of the Holy Cross, he held the Loyola Professor of Middle East Studies position, was the chair of the Department of Religious Studies, and director of the College of the Holy Cross's Center for International Studies.[6][failed verification] At Georgetown University, Esposito held the position of university professor and taught as both professor of religion and international affairs and professor of Islamic studies.[7]

Esposito published Islam and Politics in 1984, and Islam: The Straight Path in 1988.[8] Both books sold well, going through many editions. In addition to more than 35 books, he was editor-in-chief of a number of Oxford reference works, including The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World, The Oxford History of Islam, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World (six volumes), and Oxford Islamic Studies Online.[9]

In 1988, he was elected president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA).[3] He also served as president of the American Academy of Religion and president of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies. He served as vice chair of the board of directors of the Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy from 1999 to 2004 he was a member of the World Economic Forum's Council of 100 Leaders, the High Level Group of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations and the E. C. European Network of Experts on De-Radicalisation. He was an advisor to the award-winning documentary Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet (2002), produced by Unity Productions Foundation and broadcast by PBS.[9] A recipient of the American Academy of Religion's 2005 Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion and of Pakistan's Quaid-e-Azam Award for Outstanding Contributions in Islamic Studies, in 2003 he received Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service Outstanding Teacher Award.[10][3]

He founded the Center for Muslim–Christian Understanding at Georgetown University in 1993 and was its founding director.[11] The center received a $20 million endowment from Saudi Arabian Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal "to advance education in the fields of Islamic civilization and Muslim-Christian understanding and strengthen its presence as a world leader in facilitating cross-cultural and inter-religious dialogue".[12]

Death

Esposito died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 86, due to complications from a heart surgery, in Philadelphia.[13][3][4] He is survived by his wife, Jean Esposito (Jeannette Paisker), whom he married in 1965.[13]

After his death, the Council on American–Islamic Relations and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sent condolences over his passing, with Ibrahim describing Esposito as "an influential scholar who built the intellectual foundations for a deeper understanding of Islam in the West" and emphasized his friendship with Esposito for more than 50 years.[14][15] Former Turkish President Abdullah Gül stated that Esposito's introduction of Islam to the West was "beautiful and graceful".[4]

Bibliography

Selected works as author, co-author, or editor, include titles listed below.

Editor

Books

Collections

This section may include written or editorial contributions to collections of works by various scholars.

References

  1.  "John L. Esposito, PhD Obituary Jul 15, 2026". The Donohue Funeral Homes Inc.
  2.  El Mallouki, Habib (January 15, 2016). "Interview with the Islam scholar John Louis Esposito: Islam's image problem". Qantara.de – Dialogue with the Islamic World. Archived from the original on June 4, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  3.  Habib, Heba (July 16, 2026). "John Esposito, pioneering scholar of Islam in the US, dies aged 86". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  4.  El-Sabawi, Yasmine (July 16, 2026). "John Esposito, would-be Catholic priest turned renowned scholar of Islam, dies aged 86". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  5.  Parray, Tauseef Ahmad (January 13, 2021). "On Reading John Esposito's Islam – The Straight Path". Greater Kashmir. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6.  "John Esposito | Distinguished University Professor | Georgetown University". New Lines Institute. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  7.  Academic Biography John L. Esposito. Georgetown University. Archived September 6, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
  8.  "John Esposito, who let a billion Muslims speak for themselves, dies at 86". Muslim Network. July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  9.  "John L. Esposito, veteran scholar of Islam, dies at 86". Maktoob. July 16, 2026. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  10.  Cooney, Siobhan (July 17, 2026). "John Louis Esposito (1940-2026)". Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  11.  "John L Esposito, leading scholar of Islam and outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, dies aged 86". Middle East Monitor. July 16, 2026. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  12.  Press Release: "Georgetown University Receives $20 Million Gift From Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal To Expand Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding". Office of Communications, Georgetown University, December 12, 2005. Archived September 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
  13.  "John Louis Esposito (1940–2026)". ACMCU.edu. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  14.  "CAIR Offers Condolences on Passing of Respected Scholar Prof. John Esposito". CAIR. July 15, 2026. Archived from the original on July 16, 2026. Retrieved July 16, 2026.
  15.  "Anwar extends condolences over passing of top Islamic scholar John Esposito". New Straits Times. Bernama. July 16, 2026. Archived from the original on July 17, 2026. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  16.  Esposito, John L.; Dalia Mogahed (2007). Who Speaks For Islam?: What a Billion Muslims Really Think. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1-59562-017-0.

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John L Esposito, leading scholar of Islam and outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, dies aged 86

July 16, 2026 at 3:46 pm

John L. Esposito [X]

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John L Esposito, one of the West’s most influential scholars of Islam and the Middle East and a longstanding supporter of Palestinian, has died aged 86.

The Georgetown University professor was widely known for confronting Islamophobia and rejecting portrayals of Muslims as an inherent political or security threat. In the final years of his life, he also spoke forcefully about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the role of Western politicians, media outlets and pro-Israel organisations in marginalising Palestinian voices.

In a 2024 report co-authored for Georgetown’s Bridge Initiative, Esposito examined almost 300 Facebook posts about Palestine and Israel by US presidential candidates. The study accused politicians from both major parties of devaluing Palestinian lives, reproducing anti-Muslim stereotypes and offering Israel unconditional support despite evidence of apartheid, occupation and genocide.

The report also warned that critics of Israel were routinely portrayed as either anti-Semitic or supporters of Hamas, accusations that were used to silence discussion of Palestinian rights and Israel’s violations of international law.

Palestinian-American academic Hatem Bazian described Esposito as a “true companion to our Palestinian struggle when it was not popular”, saying that he identified Israel’s assault on Gaza as genocide without qualification and continued to support Palestinian advocacy despite the personal and professional consequences.

Bazian said that Esposito had challenged the pro-Israel lobby both within and outside academia and had continued to sign petitions, organise initiatives and speak publicly about Palestine after coming under pressure.

In his tribute, Bazian also alleged that he, Esposito and several others had been targeted by an extensive pro-Israel spying operation which accessed their banking and financial information and mapped their homes. He said the surveillance and intimidation did not alter Esposito’s position. Bazian did not identify those allegedly responsible or provide further documentation about the operation in his tribute.

READ: Rights group report spike in FBI interrogation of pro-Palestine activists 

Esposito had also faced years of public attacks from pro-Israel organisations opposed to his scholarship and engagement with Muslim communities. In 2023, the Middle East Forum published a series branding him “a terrorist’s best friend” and accusing him of defending political Islam, language his supporters viewed as part of a wider effort to discredit academics who rejected dominant US narratives about Muslims and the Middle East.

Born in Brooklyn in 1940, Esposito became university professor of religion and international affairs and professor of Islamic studies at Georgetown University. He founded the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding in 1993, which later became the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He also established and directed the Bridge Initiative, a research project documenting Islamophobia and its influence on politics, public policy and the media.

His work gained particular importance after the attacks of 11 September, 2001, when Muslims in the US and Europe faced expanding surveillance, discrimination and collective suspicion. At a time when much public discussion presented Islam primarily through terrorism and national security, Esposito challenged the hateful narrative vilifying Muslims and Islam.

The Bridge Initiative later documented the effect of the so-called War on Terror on Muslim communities, including surveillance, discriminatory prosecutions, the use of counter-extremism policies and efforts by Zionist organisations to obstruct scholarship and activism supporting Palestinian rights.

Following the start of Israel’s Gaza offensive, Esposito warned that Western news coverage had helped drive a sharp rise in anti-Muslim hostility. He described the media as “hugely responsible for the rise in Islamophobia”, criticising outlets which repeated unverified Israeli claims while giving insufficient attention to Palestinian deaths and suffering.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Esposito authored or edited more than 50 books on Islam, Muslim politics, democratisation, interfaith relations and the Middle East. His best-known works included Islam: The Straight Path, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam and Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think, written with Dalia Mogahed.

He also served as editor-in-chief of major Oxford reference works on Islam and was a former president of the Middle East Studies Association of North America. His scholarship challenged the idea that Islamic political movements could be understood through a single framework, arguing instead that they should be assessed according to their political circumstances, popular support and conduct.

Esposito’s engagement extended beyond academic writing. He appeared at government hearings, advised policymakers and supported academics, activists and political prisoners facing repression. MEMO interviewed him in 2021 about the legacy of the Arab Spring and previously published his condemnation of the killing of demonstrators in Egypt following the 2013 military coup.

Watch: MEMO in conversation with John Esposito and Maha Azzam  

Esposito also defended scholars targeted under counter-terrorism measures. Speaking about the Austrian authorities’ raid on Islamophobia researcher Farid Hafez, Esposito warned that the targeting of a prominent mainstream academic raised serious questions about the treatment of Muslims in Europe.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Esposito had helped generations of students, journalists, religious leaders and policymakers develop a more accurate understanding of Islam while promoting religious freedom, interfaith cooperation and human dignity.

In his tribute, Bazian said Esposito’s influence would remain visible in the institutions he founded and among the Muslim scholars and community figures whom he supported, particularly during the years after 9/11.

Esposito is survived by his wife, Jean, and leaves behind students, colleagues and friends across the world.

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