I Gusti Ngurah Rai

By: I Made Pawitra

9B/10

Lieutenant Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai was born in Carangsari, Badung Regency, Bali on 30
January 1917. He was an Indonesian National Hero who commanded Indonesian force in Bali
against the Dutch during the Indonesian war of independence. Because he is one of the
carangsari royal family so he got a privilege to studied in a Dutch school. He studied in a Dutch
elementary school named HIS Denpasar.

After he graduated from elementary school then he went to MULO junior high school in
Malang, East java. He then received Dutch military training at the military school in Gianyar, Bali
and in Magelang, central java. After he finished the training he joined the military as a second
lieutnant in Bali. After that he study at CORO magelang and pendidikan artileri, Malang.

After the Indonesian declaration of independence he form tentara keamanan rakyat (TKR) or
the people’s security army for the lesser sunda islands. After that he went to the TKR
headquarter in Jogjakarta to consolidate with the leader of central TKR. Then he become the
commander of TKR of lesser sunda with the rank of lieutenant colonel. When he come back
from Jogjakarta he found out that the Dutch was landed in Bali with approximately 2000 troops
on 2 and 3 March 1946.

Then after he found out that the Dutch landed in Bali then he start a battle againts the Dutch.
This battle was background by Ngurah Rai’s disappointment over the results of the Linggarjati
agreement from the Dutch and the Indonesian government. The agreement said that the
Dutch recognized Indonesia’s power included the islands of Java, Sumatra and Madura
meanwhile Bali is recognized as being part of the Country of Eastern Indonesia made by the
Dutch. The Dutch then attempted to locate Ngurah Rai’s base and offered negotiations, which
he refused.
On 18 November 1946 Ngurah Rai and his small troops called Ciung Wanara attack Tabanan. As
the result a lot of Dutch army surrendered. Because of this, the Dutch planned to revenge for
their loss. On 20 November 1946 the Dutch launched a large attack against Ngurah Rai and his
troop in Marga Village, Tabanan. Then Ngurah Rai ordered a Puputan or fight to the death. He
died with his troops in the battle. Now the battle known as Puputan Margarana.

Because of his contribution to the country he receive Bintang Mahaputra a medal given to
those who have made a extraordinary contribution to the military sector. He also receive
promotion to become a brigadier general (posthumously). Not only that he also receive title of
national hero based on Presidential Decision No. 63/TK/1975 on 9 August 1975. His name
become an airport in bali called Ngurah Rai International airport. You can also see his face on
the old RP 50.000 money.