Rahmah El Yunusiah’s struggle did not end there. After the arrival of the Japanese, Padang’s situation became increasingly chaotic. Japan gathered women in every colonized country, including Indonesia. This news incited Rahmah’s fury upon hearing that a group of Minang women had been abducted, captured, and taken to Medan. Rahmah journeyed to Medan for days alongside her friends and guards, consisting of young freedom fighters.
Upon reaching the place where the Minang women were held captive, Rahmah encountered the Japanese commander with his wife. A heated dialogue ensued, leading Rahmah’s guards to detain the commander’s wife, initiating an agreement: if the captive women were released, the commander’s wife would also be set free. Finally, the agreement was fulfilled, and the captive Minang women came out, met Rahmah, and embraced her with immense gratitude.
After overcoming various challenges and obstacles, Rahmah El Yunusiah received news on August 20, 1945, of Indonesia’s independence. Rahmah swiftly gathered her students, announced the news, and hastily made a flag because there was no flag available at that time to hoist.
Using a makeshift red woven cloth combined with two overlapping white shawls, the red and white flag was created, then raised atop the Diniyyah Puteri courtyard pole. Many people claimed that Rahmah El Yunusiah was the first person to hoist the red and white flag in Padang Panjang.
Rahmah El Yunusiah’s seldom-documented struggle is beginning to surface. In 2013, although Rahmah El Yunusiah had passed away, her contributions were honored with the Bintang Mahaputra Adipradana award by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, accepted by Fauziah, Rahmah El Yunusiah’s granddaughter, who aspires to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps.
The story of this female hero from Padang Panjang is highly inspiring. Upholding her human rights, Rahmah strived tirelessly to ensure that indigenous people, especially women, received treatment befitting any other human being. Rahmah refused to let women experience discrimination, violence, or marginalization due to patriarchal culture. In today’s context, we should draw lessons from her example and apply them in real life, acknowledging that every human being, regardless of gender, deserves to live well, mutually respecting and honoring one another.