Her real name is Princess Kalimah, but most of Acehnese know
her as Putroe Phang or Putroe Pahang. Empress of Sultan Iskandar Muda has important
role on make some rules and norms of Acehnese people life.“ Adat bak Po Meureuhom, Hukom bak Syah Kuala, Qanun bak Putroe Phang, Reusam bak Bentara.”It feels like, almost no one Acehnese do not know about this proverb. Its mean is; adat (Culture) based on Po Meureuhom, Hukom (Law) based on Syah Kuala, Qanun (Discussion between Government and Citizen), Reusam is laws, habituality, and rules which was decided by Keuchik (the head of village), and agreed by Tuha Peut.
The reason whys the Qanun created base on Putroe Phang
agreement is because, in ancient life Putroe Phang known as a smart and high intelligence
women. It proven by the story between a boy and a girl who debate because of
the heritage that’s was given by their parents. In one day, have some case
between a boy and a girl who have heritage house and a patch of rice field. From
the division of the heritage is the man except the house and the women got a
patch of rice field. The women do not want it. Because of it, this case audible
to Putroe Phang. Because of that, Putroe Phang make some decisions. Putroe
Phang decide the man got a patch of rice field and the women got the house. According
to Putroe Phang, the man can sleep in Meunasah (Worship Place) but the women can
not do that. Because the man stronger than the women, so the field is given to
the man for work on.
This decision has excepted by all member of empire, including
Sultan Iskandar Muda. Until now, in several district in Aceh the heritage to
give the house to the women preserved.
Come from Pahang Empire, Malaysia, Putroe Phang was married by
Sultan Iskandar Muda when he conquered Semenanjung Malaka in 17 century, the
golden years of Sultan Iskandar Muda.
The marriage Sultan Iskandar Muda and Putroe Phang awarded two kids : Meurah Pupok and Puteri Sari Alam.
Besides assertive character, Sultan Iskandar Muda apparently
have romantic personality. Lets check out a replaying latter to Queen Elizabeth
1 like cited by French Historian Denys Lombard on his book Kerajaan Aceh: Zaman
Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607-1636). “Hambalah sang penguasa perkara negeri-negeri
di bawah angin, yang terhimpun di atas tanah Aceh dan atas tahah Sumatera dan
atas seluruh wilayah-wilayah yang tunduk kepada Aceh, yang terbentang dari ufuk
matahari terbit hingga matahari terbenam.”
But unfortunately, we do not found any love latter Iskandar
Muda to Putroe Phang. But to proving his love to Putroe Phang, Sultan Iskandar
Muda build Gunongan and Pinto Khop as bathing place and also for chat with
Putroe Phang.
By Gunongan its self we know how important Putroe Phang for Sultan Iskandar Muda and for the story of Putroe Phang role we know how important her for the culture in Aceh its self.
Is that possible the Putroe Phang forget to set the rules to
respect historical place? Or we have forgot it?
