Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto

(Raden Mas Hadji) Oemar Said Tjokroaminoto (August 16, 1882; Ponorogo – December 17, 1934; Yogyakarta), better known in Indonesia as H. O. S. Tjokroaminoto, was an Indonesian nationalist. He was one of the leaders, after the founder Haji Samanhudi, of Syarekat Dagang Islam (Islamic Trade Union), which became Sarekat Islam.

The second of twelve children, he was born in Ponorogo as the son of RM. Tjokroaminoto (district chief of Kleco), grandson of RMA. Tjokronegoro (regent of Ponorogo), and grand-grandson of Kyai Bagus Kasan Besari of Tegalsari pesantren. According to his genealogy, his education was directed towards civil service.

After graduating in 1902 from OSVIA (Dutch: OpleidingSchool Voor Inlandsche Ambtenaren; training school for indigenous government employees) in Magelang, the then-highest civil servant education, he worked as a civil servant in Ngawi for three years (1902-1905). He moved to Surabaya, where he met H. Samanhudi, founder and leader of the Islamic Trade Unions (SDI). At night, he attended BAS (Burgerlijke Avond School) for some years. After graduating, he worked in a sugar refinery (1907-1912). He wrote for Bintang Soerabaja daily and became a staff assistant.

H. Samanhudi had founded Sarekat Dagang Islam (Islamic Trade Unions) (SDI), in late 1911, in Surakarta. Tjokroaminoto was asked to prepare needed regulations for the organization and to handle the management. The statuten (statute) was prepared and notarized in Surabaya (September 10, 1912).

At Tjokroaminoto's suggestion, the word Dagang (trade) in the organization's name was removed and SDI became SI (Sarekat Islam; Islamic Union). Its chairman was H. Samanhudi, while Tjokroaminoto became commissioner. Few days later its statute was sent to Governor-General to be legalized as a corporate body (rechtspersoon).

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