Hurustiati Subandrio

Hurustiati Subandrio (c. 1918–1974), in Van Ophuijsen Spelling Hoeroestiati Soebandrio, was an Indonesian physician, politician, anthropologist, and social activist.

[8][4][3] He also studied medicine was an Indonesian nationalist, and had spent time in prison for his anti-Dutch activities; Hurustiati herself was also said to have been a major influence on his political beliefs.

After the end of the war, during the Indonesian National Revolution, both she and her husband supported the independence movement and were active in clandestine organizations.

[2][10] Her husband was very influenced by Sutan Sjahrir, became a member of his Socialist Party of Indonesia, and was appointed by him to the fledgling republic's Ministry of Information.

[1] She enacted programs focusing on basic needs such as sanitation, clean water, postnatal education, training midwives, and the opening of family planning clinics.

[20] Following the collapse of the so-called 30 September Movement in 1965 and purges of high-profile leftists in Indonesia, her husband Subandrio started to be sidelined by pro-Army forces, and by November seemed poised to be put on trial or else exiled.

[4][23] Hurustiati seems to have been in Switzerland at the time of his arrest and did not herself become a political prisoner even upon her return to Indonesia, although she was removed from her leadership positions in Kowani, the Ministry of Health, and other organizations.