Abdoel Gaffar Pringgodigdo
Encyclopedia
Prof. Mr. Abdoel Gaffar Pringgodigdo (24 August 1904 - ?) was the Minister of Justice of Indonesia from 21 January to 6 September 1950.
, Dutch East Indies
on 24 August 1904. He was the older brother of diplomat Abdoel Kareem Pringgodigdo. After two years of elementary school, he studied at a Europeeche Lagore School from 1911 to 1918, then to the Hogere Burger School. After graduating in 1923, he went to Leiden, Netherlands, to study at Leiden University
, which he graduated in 1927 with a degree in law. He also received a cum laude degree in Indoloogie, the study of the Dutch East Indies.
After returning to Indonesia, Pringgodigdo took a job as a scribe , later becoming the leader of Karang Kobar in the eastern part of Purbalingga Regency
. Towards the end of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
, Pringgodigdo served on the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence as secretary for Radjiman Widyoningrat, chair of the Committee. He was also part of the Committee of Five (Panitia Lima) responsible for formulating the state philosophy, Pancasila.
Once Indonesia became independent, Pringgodigdo served as state secretary under President Sukarno
until January 1950; from June to September 1948 he also served as the commissioner for Sumatra
. After the Dutch seized Yogyakarta
in December 1948, Pringgodigdo was captured and flown to Bangka
with other Indonesian leaders; he also reported that large parts of his archives were burned. From 21 January to 6 September 1950, he served as Minister of Justice, representing the Masyumi Party
.
After retiring from politics, Pringgodigdo began teaching. He began as a guest lecturer on law at Gadjah Mada University
, later moving to Surabaya
and teaching at Airlangga University. At Airlangga, he served as the first Dean of Law from 1953 to 1954, later serving as the university's president from November 1954 to September 1961. After a brief period as acting president at Hasanuddin University
in Ujung Pandang
, he returned to Surabaya and taught at the Surabaya State Teachers College. He later founded the Institute of Legal Tehory in Surabaya with Kho Siok Hie and Oey Pek Hong.
In 1971 he became a member of the People's Representative Council
.
Biography
Pringgodigdo was born in Bojonegoro, East JavaEast Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
, Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
on 24 August 1904. He was the older brother of diplomat Abdoel Kareem Pringgodigdo. After two years of elementary school, he studied at a Europeeche Lagore School from 1911 to 1918, then to the Hogere Burger School. After graduating in 1923, he went to Leiden, Netherlands, to study at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
, which he graduated in 1927 with a degree in law. He also received a cum laude degree in Indoloogie, the study of the Dutch East Indies.
After returning to Indonesia, Pringgodigdo took a job as a scribe , later becoming the leader of Karang Kobar in the eastern part of Purbalingga Regency
Purbalingga Regency
Purbalingga is a regency in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Purbalingga. Purbalingga Regency has an area of 777.65 km² and population of 848,000 .-External links:...
. Towards the end of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia
Japanese Occupation of Indonesia
The Japanese Empire occupied Indonesia, known then as the Dutch East Indies, during World War II from March 1942 until after the end of War in 1945...
, Pringgodigdo served on the Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence as secretary for Radjiman Widyoningrat, chair of the Committee. He was also part of the Committee of Five (Panitia Lima) responsible for formulating the state philosophy, Pancasila.
Once Indonesia became independent, Pringgodigdo served as state secretary under President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
until January 1950; from June to September 1948 he also served as the commissioner for Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. After the Dutch seized Yogyakarta
Operatie Kraai
Operatie Kraai was the code name for a Dutch military offensive against the newly formed Republic of Indonesia in December 1948 - January 1949...
in December 1948, Pringgodigdo was captured and flown to Bangka
Bangka
Bangka can refer to:* Bangka Island, an island of Indonesia* Bangka Regency, Indonesia* Bangka Strait, a strait of Indonesia* Bangka language, spoken in Indonesia* Tagalog: bangka, an outrigger canoe* Wanhua District, Taipei City...
with other Indonesian leaders; he also reported that large parts of his archives were burned. From 21 January to 6 September 1950, he served as Minister of Justice, representing the Masyumi Party
Masyumi Party
Masyumi Party was a major Islamic political party in Indonesia during the Liberal Democracy Era in Indonesia. It was banned in 1960 by President Sukarno for supporting the PRRI rebellion.-History:...
.
After retiring from politics, Pringgodigdo began teaching. He began as a guest lecturer on law at Gadjah Mada University
Gadjah Mada University
The Gadjah Mada University is the largest and the oldest national university in Indonesia . founded on December 19, 1949; although the first lecture was given on 13 March 1946. The name was taken from the name of Majapahit's Prime Minister, Gajah Mada.UGM is located in Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa...
, later moving to Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
and teaching at Airlangga University. At Airlangga, he served as the first Dean of Law from 1953 to 1954, later serving as the university's president from November 1954 to September 1961. After a brief period as acting president at Hasanuddin University
Hasanuddin University
Hasanuddin University is one of the biggest stated-owned universities in Indonesia, based in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. The university was established in 1956, named after Sultan Hasanuddin, a King of Gowa Kingdom. Before the official launching by the first vice President...
in Ujung Pandang
Makassar
Makassar, is the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, Indonesia, and the largest city on Sulawesi Island. From 1971 to 1999, the city was named Ujung Pandang, after a precolonial fort in the city, and the two names are often used interchangeably...
, he returned to Surabaya and taught at the Surabaya State Teachers College. He later founded the Institute of Legal Tehory in Surabaya with Kho Siok Hie and Oey Pek Hong.
In 1971 he became a member of the People's Representative Council
People's Representative Council
The People's Representative Council , sometimes referred to as the House of Representatives, is one of two elected national legislative assemblies in Indonesia....
.