Teuku Nyak Arif

Nyak Arif was born in Ulèë Lheuë, Banda Aceh, Aceh, on 17 July 1899.[2] He was the third of five siblings born to Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim Teuku Nyak Banta and Cut Nyak Rayeuh; he also had five siblings from his father's two other wives.[2] After graduating from elementary school in Banda Aceh, he moved to Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, to study at the teacher's college (kweekschool) there.[2] In 1911 he was chosen as the new leader of Sagi XXVI Mukim, but due to his age Nyak Arif was represented by his father.[2]

Upon finishing his studies in Bukittinggi, Nyak Arif went to the leadership school for native Indonesians (Opleiding School Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren) in Banten on the island of Java.[2] While at school, he demonstrated a dislike of the Dutch colonial government and their programs, at times disobeying commands from his teachers and refusing to take the f 10 allowance allocated to every Acehnese student outside of Aceh.[2] After graduating in 1915, he returned to Aceh.[3]

Nyak Arif became active in politics beginning in 1919, when he joined the Nationaal Indische Party, a continuation of the original Indische Party founded by Ernest Douwes Dekker, Tjipto Mangoenkoesoemo, and Ki Hajar Dewantara; he became the party's head in Aceh.[4] He also founded the Acehnese Society (Aceh Vereniging) and led the Aceh branches of the Islamic Youth Group (Jong Islamietan Bond) and Sumatran Youth Group (Jong Sumatranen Bond).[5] Beginning in this period he became an ardent supporter of the Taman Siswa and Muhammadiyah social organisations, which continued until his death.[6]

On 16 May 1927, Nyak Arif was selected to join the People's Council of Aceh (Volksraad Aceh) in addition to his duties as Chief of Sagi XXVII Mukim.[7] As a member of the council he would consistently criticise Dutch policies which he found to go against the interests of the Acehnese people;[7] in another speech he said that the Aceh War was far from over.[1] On 27 January 1930, he joined the National Fraction (Fraksi Nasional), led by Mohammad Husni Thamrin.[8] Nyak Arif left the council in 1931.[8]

In 1935 Nyak Arif became the head of the Acehnese Football Association (Acehse Voetbalbond).[4] With the nationalist movement gaining steam and the Dutch occupied with Adolf Hitler's movements in Europe, Nyak Arif delivered a speech at a memorial service for Soetomo in 1938, which ended with the lines "By Allah, with Allah, for Allah. I promise to be faithful to my homeland, people, and religion, and to never betray the struggle."[lower-alpha 1][9] This oath was taken by other attendees as well, including Daud Bereueh.[9]

With Japanese forces approaching, on 8 March 1942 Nyak Arif joined several other Acehnese leaders in demanding self-determination.[10] Three days later, eight of the leaders were arrested by Dutch forces by command of Colonel George Gosenson; Gosenson searched for Nyak Arif, but the latter was able to escape detection.[10] The following day, on 12 March 1942, the Japanese forces landed at Sabang; this was followed on 28 March with the surrender of the Dutch troops.[10] Nyak Arif was chosen by the Acehnese people to lead the Government Committee of Aceh, and reluctantly collaborated with the Japanese forces; he later said of the period, "we had driven out dogs only to have pigs come."[lower-alpha 2][11] He was once arrested on the suspicion of leading an underground resistance force, but later released.[1]

When the Japanese formed their own people's representative council for Aceh, Nyak Arif was chosen as its head.[11] In 1943 he went to Japan with 14 other Sumatran leaders and brought before Emperor of Japan Hirohito; he reportedly refused to bow before the emperor in the Japanese tradition, although he did agree to nod.[11] Upon returning to Aceh, he and Teuku Hasan delivered a speech permeated with subtle sarcasm about the greatness of the Empire of Japan.[12] In 1944 Nyak Arif was chosen to be deputy chief of the People's Representative Council of Sumatra.[12]

After the Japanese surrender to the Allies and Proclamation of Indonesian Independence in 1945, on 3 October Nyak Arif was chosen to be the first resident of Aceh.[13] In this position he oversaw the Japanese withdrawal from Aceh after refusing the Allies the right to do so;[1] despite clashes with some Japanese troops in Bireuën, they were eventually all disarmed and returned to their homeland.[3] On 17 January 1946 he was declared a titular major general while he served as a staff member to the Sumatran military commander.[14]

During the Cumbok Affair—a power struggle between the ulama (religious leaders) and ulèëbalang (feudalists)—Nyak Arif agreed to surrender himself to the ulama to prevent further bloodshed.[6] He died on 4 April of the same year as from complications from diabetes in Takengon[6] and was buried in Lam Nyong family cemetery.[1]