A Talawi Son with a Dream for a Great Nation

Kompas/Rini Kustiasih

The tombs of Muhammad Yamin and his father Usman, whose title was Bagindo Khatip, are seen in Talawi district, Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, on Friday (24/2). The tombs are well maintained and have become a tourist and pilgrimage destination for people from various regions. The local administration has paid attention to the tomb complex and has carried out renovations.24-02-2017

Learning from Majapahit and Sriwijaya, Muhammad Yamin, a native of Talawi, a small district in the mining town of Sawahlunto, West Sumatra, strived to realize his dream for a great and independent nation called Indonesia. Yamin had a huge role in reviving the self-image and fighting spirit among Indonesians, after hundreds of years of being trampled on by colonialism.

Two roadside graves near a market in Talawi, some 17 kilometers from downtown Sawahlunto, are markers in the local area. The massive graveyard with a library, beside the Talawi district office, is also a major tourism site. Every day, many travelers visit the location.