Between Timber Company and Saminism

The Vereeniging Javasche Houthandel Maatschappij (Java Hout) building in Bandarharjo, Semarang as it appears on 2013, abandoned and decayed. No longer could showed the glorious of the primary Dutch-Indies timber company. 

Timber, one’s of the basic resources for the humankind. Talking about this, moreover about the business related to this were very interesting. In this modern era’s where the forestal area  were reduced from time to time, the needs of timber were also growth significantly. A lots of ways had been made to changed the used of timber, since its getting so expensive today. But for those who pursuing the luxurious and prestigious felt, there are no doubt for them to spend more to it. Last nite, after a charity events, in the rural areas outskirt of Semarang City, in Genuk, me and my friends passed a multinational furniture company that’s owned their own “palace” over there, The Harrison & Gill Co . A walled building with a mediteranean style gate, with the several Moorish-style building inside. The people surround said that it’s used as both the residence of the owner and its production facilities. Checking on the owner profile on wiki, He designed and built a one million square foot workshop complex in Java in order to accommodate the 1,400 carvers, woodcarvers and specialist finishers that craft his designs. Could you imagine how big its?

The warehouse of Java Hout on 1915, located besides the
offices now is no longer existed anymore. (source: Leiden University Library)

Here in Semarang, long before Harrison & Gill existed, once there’s a big timber company established by the East-Indie government. It’s the important timber exporter to Netherlands specifically, Europe Generally. Its Vereenigde Javasche Houthandel Maatschappij or simply called as Java Hout in Bandarharjo, North Semarang. The building of this primary timber company in East Indies now is used as the office of Perusahaan Daerah (Perusda) Jawa Tengah. But since its often to get floods, now its abandoned, like the others building surround it, the Lendeteves Stokvis building for example, that located in front of it, its getting badly damaged from time to time.

From the inscription in front façade of the building, its showed us that its established on 1911. The workshop of Java Hout, besides this building were already collapsed. There’s lack of activity except a few people’s who residenced in the housing complex behind it. The Java Hout, instead having the important role for the timber industry in Indonesia, related to the modernization of timber industry, its also having a story related to the creation of Samin movement in Blora, the main source of Timber in Java.

Its Samin Surosentiko or Raden Kohar from di Ploso Kedhiren, Randublatung, Blora. He was the leader of the Samin movement that persuade the people of Blora, specifically those who lived in the teak forest area, performed protest against the Dutch. At that time, the Dutch via Java Hout claimed the permission to exploitated the teak forest in Blora. Here for long time until now, is famous for the best quality of its teak wood.  Thus, people outside the company, the indigenous people also were forbidden to cut the trees surround the areas which already monopolized by Java Hout. Those who were violated the rules would be prisoned.

Monorailbaan, the monorail track using for the timber
transport in Blora, around 1914. (source: Tropical Institute)

Seeing this condition, and felt that He together with his people are the owner of this forest for a centuries, a legacy from their ancestor, so long before the Dutch claimed that its belong to them. During his speeches on 1889, Samin stated that the land of Java is owned by the descendants of the Pandawa, Pandawa are family descendants of Majapahit Kingdom. This history is written on one’s of the Java book tittled Punjer Kawitan. According to the content of Punjer kawitan, Samin Surosentiko persuade his people to fight against the Dutch Government. “This Java soil does not belong to the Dutch, this were our ancestor land! Java is for the Javanese!” he said.

Hence, after that, He together with his follower formed Samin Movement. A peaceful protest, like what Gandhis with his Ahimsa principle. The Samin people were refused to pay the tax, refused the duty to work for the Dutch-Indies government, and refused the duty to performing the regular night watch. The Samin movement soon gained hundreds of follower and its spread into the cities surround Blora like Cepu and Bojonegoro. The Samin movement also have a purposed to create the Independence State ruled by the Javanese, thus they could live in peace and harmony.

The government of Dutch-Indies getting furious knowing what the Samin Surosentiko and his follower does.  The Batavia feared that the Samin movement would growth bigger and could harm the stabilization in Java. Then on the same years,on 1907 Samin Surosentiko together with 8 of his follower, arrested by the Dutch-Indies government and exiled to Padang, West Sumatera until he died on 1914. The Samin movement after their leader being exiled were not extincted, they isolated themselves from the outside, and even there’s a story told that they just found a fact that Indonesia has gained their independence from the Dutch in the years of 1970’s. 

Balai Muslimin And The Memories of Tan Malaka in Semarang

The Balai Muslimin building, in Kampung Gendong, Sarirejo, Semarang Timur, taken on 2013 as appeared on the articles of Majalah Historia. The condition were badly damaged with the original facade were hard to be rcognized.

Happy Ramadhan all! Long time no post, several activity whack up my time to write, then in the ends of months like this, I gotta share something that I got couple days ago, about kinda untold story coming from Kampung Gendong about an abandoned building called Balai Muslimin. Less people know about the fact about this building that closely related to the figure of Tan Malaka,” the Che Guevara from Asia”. Then the story goes…

Tan Malaka, is an Indonesian independence activist, once the leader of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), thus He’s story were little bit undiscovered yet, related to his origin, an Let-wing activist. Here ini Semarang, we’ve got his legacy, the Balai Muslimin, once used by Tan Malaka as His Sarekat Rakyat School  who become the role model of the school broke the rules of the indigenous people educational system under the Dutch. He thought that the educational system, especially that applied to the low-class people, were discriminated, its only purposed to  formed the lower-class worker. In the Inlandsch School (Indigenous School) or  in the Volksch School (People’s School, in Javanese known as Ongko Loro, related to the period that only takes for two years) its only emphasized to the counting and reading ability. Only the rich inlander (Indonesian people) could afford the well-education school, like the son of regents, government employee, landowner, etc. Thus, Tan Malaka established its Sarekat Rakyat School, that inspired from the Dutch and Russian. According to the historian, Harry A Poeze, Tan Malaka once reads an articles about the communist school curriculum, and another inspiration is that his experience when He works in Deli Tobacco Plantantion, that the knowledge to be learned, is must based on the local genius. 

In a brochure entitled SI Semarang and Onderwijs published on 1921, Tan Malaka explained the reason and purpose of this Sarekat Rakyat School. First, the need for education and science skills such as numeracy, writing, geography, and language. Secondly, the organization education and politics. Those were required to developing  a strong personality, self-confidence, self-esteem, and social sensitivity. The last points he wrotes, the education must evoked the sense of humanity. 

The first day of the "Tan School", there are fifty students came to register. The school then held a ceremony for its new students together with their parents who attended the SI (Sarekat Islam) board of Semarang. After the inauguration procession, the students wearing the red shorts, marches with singing “The Internationale”. The attendances applauded. It just the starting point to the Sarekat Rakyat School to become greater. New students continued to arrive, up to 200 students applied. Dozens of people were also applied to be the teacher.

The Sarekat Rakyat School in Semarang, taken on 1917.
(source: Menjadi Indonesia)

In the Balai Muslimin, during the morning, its functioned as school, The Sarekat Rakyat School . then on afternoon, Tan Malaka held a course for the teachers. The establishment of a news kind of “Volks School” in Semarang soon spread to the other areas. Some big cities in Java established a school similar with the Sarekat Rakyat School in their own region. In Bandung for examples, its gain a short times after those in Semarang to established a branch of Sarekat Rakyat School.

Nowadays, the Balai Muslimin was totaly abandoned. The damaged of its roof were getting worst, on the left side its collapsed already. During the hard rain, its often getting flood, endangered the floor tile. Sooner or later, if there's no immediate conservations efforts, it will be destroyed and gone forever.

Source: Tempo edisi khusus, Peniup Suling bagi Anak Kuli, 2008

Awakening the Historical Sense through Exhibition

The Sentiling mini exhibition in SMA Negeri 1 Semarang, all of the visitors were so curious with the sories. Reputedly its named Sentiling due to the Javanese felt hard to spell Koloniale Tetoonstelling, so they simplified it to Sentiling.
(photos by: Harry Suryo)

"Als Ik een Nederlander Was" (If I were a Dutchman). A quotes from Ki Hajar Dewantara (Suwardi Suryaningrat) articles in De Express Daily, written in 1913 criticizing the Dutch government preparations of Koloniale Tetoonstelling event, held in Semarang, which also become the commemoration of 100 years of Dutch independence from France. In the article he wrote that, if I were a Dutchman, I will never celebrate my independence day commemoration in the land were I grabbed their independence.  The article also makes him exiled to Holland by East Indies Gouverneur-General, Idenburg.

That quotes welcomed the visitors on the Sentiling 1914 exhibition, held in SMA 1 Semarang in order to provide knowledge to the public about this Koloniale Tetoonstelling. Anyway, the area of SMA 1 Semarang itself stands on the former area of Koloniale Tetoonstelling, which stretched from Pieter Styhoof Laan (now Jalan Pandanaran) to the south, around the area of ​​what we recognize as Taman KB nowadays. The event was held over three days from 10-12 December 2012.

The main gate of the exhibition, situated in the south side
of Pieter Styhoof Laan (now Jalan Pandanaran).
(Source: Troopenmuseum)

Less people know that in Semarang, from August to November 1914 was held this Koloniale Tetoonstelling, a colonial exhibition that used to be the biggest in Southeast Asia's, a world expo which until this day havent held yet in Indonesia anymore (see the list of worlds fair in the world here). As an efforts related to the preparation, facing this event, the infrastructure in the East Indies soon be "slicked up". Train is a favourites transportation on that age, so that railway stations are built for facilitate those visitors from the another town. Jurnatan station, before it the station was just a simple timber station, then converted into a luxurious grand station in 1913, then become the largest station in Semarang, unortunatelly, its already demolished. Then another two new stations built, there are Tawang (inaugurated in June 1914) and Poncol (inaugurated, August 1914), all of that purposed to support the event of Koloniale Tetoonstelling.  A lots of car rental established and of course, a lots of hotels were built in the southern part of Semarang as a visitor accommodation.

The situation on the exhibition, its visible the tram track,
which served to transported around the exhibition area.
(Source: Troopenmuseum)

This event also an event to show off the Dutch achievements in East Indies. Plantations, the main commodity that exported from East Indies, the pavillions is built completed with the miniature of sugar, coffee, tea, cacao, kina, and many more plantations landscape. The manufacturing, trade, financial, bank companies and the colonies in the archipelago complete with custom homes and custom performance shown also participate in this event. As it name as a world expo, this event were invited several fellow country. Unfortunately, on the same year the World War I broke out, which led to this event didnt realized as its planned before. All the representatives of European countries to cancelled their participation, and the only fellow country that attend this exhibition only  United States, Australia, British India, Switzerland, French Indochina, China and Japan.

Explanation through archival photos and books attract the attention of visitors. Until the end of the even, its recorded that 286 people visited the exhibition. A number, that I think its very fantastic, because it is just a simple exhibition, with minimal decoration precissely. This exhibition also financed by Titus Aji, also the initiators of this exhibition that also ask me in favor together to handle it. Salute! in this materialtistic world, there's a people who still wanna to hold this kind of event, which surely there's no benefit at all. Well its already done anyway, thanks for all especially to my friends who have been strong willingness as a volunteer to handle it. So proud you guys! May the knowledge of the visitors after attended our events and their smile, always be a remembrance for us, and made us believe that what we've done is worth, and may God replied by His own way :) ameen. . . 

Me with all of  Sentiling 1914 exhibition committee, from OASE community, gonna miss y'all guys :)

Diskriminasi Dalam Penataan Kota

Ruang Publik, sesuai definisinya yakni sebuah ruang yang terbuka dan terjangkau aksesibilitasnya setiap waktu, menurut situs wikipedia.org ,dan jika kita mempersepsikan ruang publik adalah gambaran dari jiwa warga kota, maka gambaran itu adalah keterasingan dan diskriminasi. Jelajahilah ruang-ruang publik di kota kita dan rasakanlah sekat-sekat yang akan memerangkap kita dalam kelas-kelas sosial.

Mari telusuri keberadaan ruang-ruang publik di kota kita tercinta, Semarang. Dari yang terdekat dari rumah saya yang berada dibilangan Sendangmulyo, Semarang Timur, masih terbilang lumayan baik karena masih terdapat lapangan-lapangan terbuka, namun yang memprihatinkan adalah semakin sedikit masyarakat menggunakannya untuk beraktifitas. Walhasil hanyalah sebuah tanah lapang yang dipandang para developer sebagai lahan kosong. Kompleks perumahanpun dibangun secara masif, dan telah mendesak gaya hidup menjadi kampung yang egaliter. Bahkan kini muncul konsep kluster, perumahan di dalam perumahan. Artinya penyekatan semakin mengecil. Masyarakat semakin nyaman hidup dalam keterasingan dengan dalih keamanan dan lingkungan pergaulan. Semakin banyak orang tua yang tak mengizinkan anak-anak mereka keluar rumah. Menyebabkan anak menjadi terpenjara. Dunia anak dan mungkin juga orangtuanya menjadi hanya sebatas pagar rumah masing-masing.

Dari ruang rumah yang memenjara, mari kita tengok ke sekolah. Kita tengok tren, sekali lagi di kota kita tercinta, Semarang, yakni semakin maraknya sekolah-sekolah internasional. Jaminan pendidikan yang berbasis internasional, jelas tersedia. Menjadikan anak-anak berwawasan global, itu sudah barang tentu, namun adakah rasa nasionalisme, kearfian lokal dan kepekaan sosial yang dipupuk didalamnya? Saya rasa tidak ada di sekolah yang notabene berbiaya selangit ini. Salah seorang kawan yang adiknya bersekolah di salah satu sekolah internasional terkemuka di Semarang menuturkan bahwa, tidak pernah diajarkan mata pelajaran Bahasa Jawa, dan pelaksanaan upacara bendera pun hanya setahun sekali, tepat saat peringatan kemerdekaan RI, pada tanggal 17 Agustus. Menyedihkan, sungguh.

Setelah sekolah, mari kita beranjak ke tempat yang acap kali menjadi ruang publik masyarakat Semarang, apalagi kalau bukan pusat perbelanjaan atau Mall. Semakin menjamurnya pusat perbelanjaan memang secara makro menjadi indikator pesatnya pertumbuhan ekonomi kota, namun juga menjadi sebuah fenomena, semakin terkotak-kotaknya kehidupan kaum berada dan kaum tidak mampu. Coba anda datangi pusat-pusat perbelanjaan terkemuka di kota ini , saya yakin, tidak akan dijumpai masyarakat dari kalangan menengah kebawah. Ini kan ruang publik baru? Aksesibilitasnya kan mudah? Oh jelas, namun pernahkah anda membayangkan bahwasannya mereka di ruang itu hanyalah sebagai saksi, tanpa bisa menikmati, geliat pertumbuhan ekonomi kota besar? Itulah yang terjadi, lama-lama mereka jenuh dan dengan sendirinya akan menghindari datang ke tempat dimana setiap orang merelakan dirinya untuk dimonopoli oleh brand-brand terkemuka, tanpa ada kemampuan sebagai price maker.

Ulasan di harian Kompas menyebutkan, ketiadaan ruang publik yang menjembatani pertemuan antarkelas sosial menyebabkan masyarakat tumbuh dalam dunia yang menyempit. Mereka hanya bersinggungan dengan dunia dari kelas berbeda melalui dunia maya, seperti melalui film atau tayangan televisi, atau paling banter melalui jendela kaca mobil saat menyaksikan anak-anak yang meminta-minta di lampu merah. Tentu saja, nuansa yang tertangkap akan sangat berbeda.

Mereka melihat kemiskinan dan kekumuhan hanya sebagai sesuatu yang patut dihilangkan, tetapi abai terhadap akar masalah kesenjangan, yaitu minimnya celah transformasi ekonomi dan sosial. Semua ini, bisa jadi, bermuara pada tiadanya ruang publik untuk berinteraksi secara manusiawi dengan sesamanya.

Masyarakat kota Semarang telah lama rindu memiliki pilihan ruang publik yang beragam. Masyarakat rindu memiliki taman Makam Dowo yang kini telah berubah menjadi kawasan perumahan elite dibilangan Siranda. Rindu menikmati panorama Semarang dari kawasan Gombel secara cuma-cuma, melalui taman yang ada disekitaran tugu Tabanas yang kini telah berubah menjadi tempat hiburan yang untuk menikmatinya kita harus merogoh kocek terlebih dahulu. Wahai Bapak Walikota, sungguh kami rindu.

Daripada Melawan, Alangkah Baiknya Menyesuaikan

Semarang itu “stuck”! Semarang itu “gak berkembang”! Semarang itu “ngene2 wae”!

Hampir seluruh “cah semarang” dari latar belakang berbeda yang berkumpul dan berdiskusi terkait keberlanjutan dari gerakanSemarang Obah atau yg biasa dikenal melalui tagar di twitter #SMGobah memiliki pandangan yang sama atas kota yang berjuluk kota ATLAS ini. Bermacam komunitas dan profesi mulai dari komunitas musik, komunitas online dan organisasi independen, berkumpul menjadi satu di Buket Koffee Jazz di bilangan Tembalang, Semarang, bersama-sama membulatkan tekad untuk berkontribusi pada kota Se Kota Semarang yang masih menghadapi problematika krisis identitas, menjadikan masyarakatnya apatis, bahkan cenderung tidak bangga menjadi seorang penduduk Semarang.

“Kota Semarang itu sejak pendiriannya telah di set sebagai kota niaga, mana ada orang asli Semarang, semuanya pendatang yang mengadu nasib di kota ini”, ujar Mas Gatot, aktivis penggiat musik Jazz kota Semarang. “Itulah akhirnya yang membuat budaya bahkan kuliner yang ada di kota ini itu merupakan bentuk akulturasi dari berbagai budaya”, sambung pria yang memiliki nama lengkap Gatot Hendraputra ini. Menjadi sebuah kota yang dilatarbelakangi motif niaga menjadikan masyarakat yang ada memiliki sikap segala aktivitas yang mereka lakukan atau mereka dukung haruslah memiliki keuntungan yang kembali kepada pribadi mereka masing-masing. Untungnya buat saya itu apa? Itulah salah satu sikap yang dimiliki oleh masyarakat dari kota niaga, yang umumnya berada di kawasan pesisir. Lain halnya dengan kota-kota di kawasan tengah yang berlatar agraris dengan konsep “mangan ora mangan penting kumpul” nya, mereka secara solidaritas kebudayaan lebih kuat.

Melawan kultur yang telah mengakar itu bukan perkara mudah. Mustahil bisa merubah sesuatu yang telah menjadi cirri khas/ watak. Maka dari itu melalui gerakan #SMGobah, diharapkan kultur yang memang selalu sibuk dengan urusannya masing-masing ini, yang kini implementasinya adalah bermunculannya beragam komunitas, hendaknya didasari oleh keinginan untuk mengangkat potensi yang dimiliki oleh Semarang. Saling mendukung dan meramaikan satu sama yang lain, merupakan suatu wujud nyata yang sederhana untuk membuat kota ini lebih berwarna. Namun, menurut Mas Yudi, salah satu penggiat komunitas online di kota Semarang, untuk melangkah diperlukan sebuah upaya yang simple namun terkadang berat sesuai dengan pernyataan, “diperlukan sebuah kerendahan hati, dan menyingkirkan prasangka-prasangka buruk yang ada”. Selamat melangkah dan bersinergi para pemuda!

#SMGobah! Semarang, Kota Niaga yang Beridentitas

Senin dini hari, sekitar pukul 01.00 WIB, saya terbangun dan menemukan tagar #SemarangObah yang berarti dalam bahasa Indonesia, Semarang Bergerak ini menghiasi kolom interaksi twitter saya. Selidik punya selidik ternyata tagar ini diawali oleh tweet dari teman saya yang notabene juga senior saya jaman SD, mas Khaleed (twitter: @khaleed_hp) , dan postingannya itu seperti ini

@gondrongg beberapa waktu lalu pernah ngobrol2 sama MG (I guess it must be Mas Gatot Hendraputra) , Semarang butuh wadah dan identitas. Yuk sedikit demi sedikit bikin #SemarangObah 

Pencarian pun berlanjut sembari membalas postingan2 yang mengajak saya kedalam pergerakan ini dan akhirnya, saya paham, apa maksud dari tagar #SemarangObah ini . Intinya mengkoneksikan komunitas, penggiat, dan juga pemuda yang peduli buat kemajuan semarang. Sebagai ajang silaturahmi, hal simpelnya itu begini, saling dateng ke acara komunitas sebagai bentuk dukungan. Tapi tanpa memaksa. Kalo dalam bahasa jawanya, “Nek lego lan teko, syukur alhamdulillah. Nek lagi ora iso, yo rakpopo” ( Kalo senggang datang, syukur alhamdulillah, jika sedang berhalangan ya tak apa).Intinya sebagai rangsangan buat pemuda Semarang untuk bisa lebih memajukan semarang. Meng apresiasi karya pemudanya yang ingin memberikan kontribusi kepada kota Semarang yang tercinta ini.

Sejauh ini #SemarangObah masih bentuk pemikiran dan akan lebih dibentuk olen beberapa pemuda kota Semarang, tapi ga menutup kemungkinan yang lain kalo pengen berkontribusi juga, bagaimanapun arah suatu kota itu ditentukan oleh para pemudanya bukan? Kalo kata si penggiat gerakan Indonesia Berkebun, Pak Ridwan Kamil, Pmuda itu bisa memberi pengaruh besar ke lingkungan kalau bersatu, se visi, dan searah. Dalam konteks #SemarangObah ini, sudah barang tentu didasari oleh “cinta kota Semarang”.

Bayangkan saja, jikalau pemuda di kota semarang ini dikoneksikan (notabene: mereka punya peran masing2) pasti bisa lebih blow up kota ini dan menstimulasi pemuda-pemuda yang lain untuk berkreasi. Kita ambil contoh, bayangkanlah jika pemuda dengan perannya masing-masing dan mereka memiliki peran sbb,

1. Si A yang punya jaringan luas dengan perusahan sponsor

2. Si B yang punya kepiawaian melobi pihak pemerintah buat dukung acara

3. Si C yang punya keahlian entertaint (StandUpComedy, Band, MC)

4. Si D yang punya kahlian dibidang social media, dan paling jago bikin media buzzer

5. Si E yang punya network ke media

Dan akhirnya suatu saat ada yg punya ide, dan konsep unik tentang sebuah event. Nah karena sudah saling kenal, walhasil satu sama lain saling dukung, well pastinya bakalan terjalin sinergi dan semuanya jadi lebih mantap bukan? Balik lagi, ini semua awalnya dari silaturahmi yang tadi itu, “saling dateng ke acdara komunitas sebagai bentuk dukungan” .

Apresiasi atau jadi wadah itu urusan nanti, biar kita lihat perkembangan dulu. Anak-anaknya punya respon positif atau skeptis (Mari kita rubah paradigma orang Semarang yang apatis yuk ;) ) . Ini akan jadi pengaruh postif ke kota ini, saya yakin. Well, Its up to them? To be or not to be. Lets support this movement!

Beberapa penampakan #SemarangObah di linimasa

"yang penting semua bisa satu padu,berkumpul bersama,mempunyai visi yang semua untuk #SemarangObah" by: @wisdamilky

"Samboedi adl seorang drummer kenamaan yg pd akhirny pulang ke Semarang krn saking cintanya beliau dgn kota ini. #SemarangObah " by: @hingaar

"@khaleed_hp @gondrongg pengen gitu suatu saat ada satu festival bersama dari berbagai komunitas dengan tajuk #SemarangObah " by: @wonderkid31

photos: YouthTalk! and Jazz Sore-Sore Event