Salute to Freedom Expression. Indonesia - 1945

By Ananta K. Wibawa

The Yell of "Merdeka" (Freedom) was a popular yell and often yielded by Indonesian youths since the Proclamation of Indonesia's Independence on 17 August 1945. The yell as a salute to freedom expression transformed as a national greeting for The Indonesians based on The Government of The Republic of Indonesia Decree of 31 August 1945. This national greeting officially prevailed on 1 September 1945.

The decree also explained about the customs and manners to deliver the national greeting as shown in the video above:

”The right hand is up as high as the ear. Five fingers in a row. What does it mean? Our Country has got the freedom. The voices are thundering delivering national greeting…Merdeka”

The video is a type of communication film media well-known by Indonesians in early independence era of 1945. It was one of efforts done by the republicans to widely communicate The Indonesia's Independence throughout the whole country.


On 4 September 1945, President Soekarno, in Surabaya, explained the philosophy values behind that national greeting:

“The yell of “Merdeka”, my fellow brothers, is a union yell. And not just as a union yell, but as a spark of the ruler nation itself without any tie of imperialism or colonialism. So that my fellow brothers, especially in our revolutionary phase, our revolutionary phase has not finished yet, and don’t forget to the yell of “Merdeka”. Every time we meet with one another, yield that yell of “Merdeka”!

In his 1965 autobiography written by Cindy Adams, President Soekarno explained the decision of the national greeting. “I decided so that every citizen of the Republic delivered greeting to others by raised their hands, opened wide their five fingers as the reflection of the five principles of the foundation of the Indonesia state and yielded “Merdeka”!

He admitted that he was inspired by Prophet Muhammad. “As the Great Prophet Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, introduced a greeting to unite his people, we also created a one of national greeting for the Indonesian Nation”.