Oto Iskandar di Nata


Raden Oto Iskandar di Nata was an Indonesian politician and National Hero.

Work

In his activities during the period before independence, Oto had served as Deputy Chairperson of the Bandung branch of Budi Utomo between 1921 and 1924, as well as Deputy Chairperson of Budi Utomo in Pekalongan branch in 1924. At that time, he became a member of Pekalongan's Gemeenteraad representing Budi Utomo.
Oto was also active in Sundanese cultural organizations called Paguyuban Pasundan. He became Secretary of the Executive Board in 1928, and became chairman between 1929 and 1942. The organization is engaged in education, socio-cultural, political, economic, youth and women's empowerment.
Oto also became a member of the Volksraad between 1930 and 1941.
During the Japanese occupation, he became the head of the Tjahaja newspaper. He later became a member of the BPUPK and the PPKI formed by the Japanese colonial government as institutions that helped preparation for Indonesia's independence.

Disappearance

Based on witness information, Oto was murdered on a beach in Mauk District, Tangerang Regency in Banten. He was abducted by a group called "The Black Troop", who killed him and dumped his body into the sea; the body was never found.

Aftermath and legacy

On 21 December 1952, his funeral was held in absentia. His body was replaced by sand and water taken from the beach, and interred in a cemetery in Lembang, now of West Bandung Regency. He was designated as a National Hero of Indonesia on 6 November 1973, thus legally declaring him dead, as the title is awarded posthumously.
His image appears on the 2004–2016 series of the 20,000 Indonesian rupiah note. His name is now used as street name in various cities in Indonesia on different formats; Otto Iskandardinata, Otto Iskandar Dinata, Otista, and Jalak Harupat. The latter is a Sundanese-mythical strong and courageous cock. It is used as name for Jalak Harupat Stadium, located in his hometown.