By: Prabowo Subianto [taken from the Book: Military Leadership Notes from Experience Chapter I: Exemplary Leaders of The Indonesian Armed Forces]
Following the Indonesian Independence proclamation on August 17, 1945, I Gusti Ngurah Rai traveled to Yogyakarta to seek out General Sudirman. He requested permission from General Sudirman to establish the Army of the Republic of Indonesia (TRI) in Bali and Nusa Tenggara, also known as Lesser Sunda (Sunda Kecil).
Upon his return, I Gusti Ngurah Rai recruited troops and initiated attacks on Dutch outposts that had been set up at the end of World War II to recapture Bali. Since the Japanese occupation in 1942, I Gusti Ngurah Rai had already gathered Balinese youths who were part of the Anti-Fascist Movement (GAF).
By September 1946, the Dutch started to launch offensives. On November 19, 1946, they successfully attacked and surrounded I Gusti Ngurah Rai’s troops in Margarana Village near Ubud.
An envoy from the Dutch, Captain JBT Konig, offered I Gusti Ngurah Rai and his troops safety if they surrendered. Despite the history of a close relationship between I Gusti Ngurah Rai and Konig, the offer was declined to maintain the morale of the Indonesian troops.
In a response addressed directly to Dutch Lieutenant Colonel Termeulen on May 18, 1946, I Gusti Ngurah Rai firmly stated his dedication to protecting Bali’s security and his commitment to fighting for independence.
During the battle that ensued on November 19, 1946, in Margarana Village, I Gusti Ngurah Rai and his TRI forces fought bravely against the well-equipped Dutch troops. Despite facing superior weaponry and personnel, they fought relentlessly until all TRI troops, including I Gusti Ngurah Rai and his Chief of Staff, were killed.
I Gusti Ngurah Rai’s unwavering patriotism and leadership in the face of adversity set a remarkable example for future generations of the TNI. His sacrifice and dedication to the cause of independence inspired a tradition of extraordinary military leadership within the Indonesian Armed Forces.
