The Distinction Between Solo and Surakarta
Source : museumnusantara.com
Have you ever been confused by the difference in the names Solo and Surakarta?
Some Indonesians are still confused about the difference between Surakarta and Solo. Then what is the difference between Solo and Surakarta? As it turns out, the two have different stories.
‘Solo’ itself comes from the name of a plant ‘Sala’ which has long been believed to thrive in this city area. This name refers to the history of the city of Solo, which was originally a separate settlement of the Mataram Kingdom. The mention of ‘Sala’ then changed to ‘Solo’ since the European colonialists entered this area. Somehow, this mispronunciation continues to be used by the local community, thus eliminating the popularity of the original name.
Although the name Solo is better known, the administrative name currently used is Surakarta, based on information on the website of the Surakarta City Council. The term Surakarta consists of two syllables in Javanese. “Sura” means determination and courage to face various obstacles that are always present in the future. While “Karta” means peace. The term “Karta” itself is taken from the name of the palace before the proposed government center, namely Kartasura. The reuse of this part of the quote is a form of respect and hope for the blessings of Mataram’s ancestors in the past.
So far, there is a clear difference in using the two.
- Designation for the Village and the Name of the Palace, Solo or “Sala” is a term for a village in Central Java. Meanwhile, Surakarta is the name of the palace which later occupied the area.
- Two Different Historical Phases, Solo is the name of the village because of its characteristics. Meanwhile, Surakarta became the name of the palace that ruled the region in 1670.
- Current Use of Terms Has a Different Context, Solo gives a more informal impression and is easier to pronounce for ordinary people and outside the region. The term “Surakarta” itself is used in local government bureaucratic offices to denote a fragmented city name.
- Marking social conditions that are no longer the same, this place is a link between the province, economy, social and politics which is visited by many people. This of course leads to revolutionary social changes from the village of Solo to the city of Surakarta.
- Being the name of a city and residency, Solo refers to the name of a village in the past. Meanwhile, Surakarta is a residency consisting of the regencies of Boyolali, Sragen, Wonogiri, Klaten, Karanganyar and Sukoharjo.
- The Fate of the Two (eventually) Different Names, Solo is considered a mere verbal nickname while Surakarta is a legal name because it is administratively registered as part of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.
Over time, the name “Solo” became more commonly used than “Surakarta” to refer to the city. However, both “Solo” and “Surakarta” are both officially recognized as the city’s official name.
Writer : Salma Devy Andini (Salma Devy Andini (Communication Science’21)
Editor : Salma Devy Andini (Communication Science’21)
