A Book for the Bride

So close was Mohammad Hatta's emotional relationship with books that an anecdote relates that his first wife was a phenomenon called "book". This story tries to picture how important books were to Indonesia's co-proclaimer of independence.

August 14, 2001

Hatta's mother was annoyed at her son on his wedding day. Imagine: Hatta's wedding gift to his bride Rahmi Rachim was a book. On that happy day at the Megamendung villa Hatta presented his wife-to-be (who was then only 19 years old) with a book he had just finished authoring. It was entitled Alam Pikiran Yunani (The Greek Philosophy). The old lady's pique was understandable as a wedding gift traditionally consisted of something of great value such a

...

More Articles