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

Bank of Taiwan, The Japanese Empire Wealth over Asia

A postcard depicted The Bank of Taiwan Building in Surabaya in Kembang Jepun, on the corner of Songgoyudan Street (left) and Slompretan Street (right). (date unknown - Source: Leiden University Library) 

The First Sino-Japanese War broke out between Qing Dynasty China and Japan in 1894 following a dispute over the sovereignty of Korea. Following its defeat, China ceded the islands of Taiwan and Penghu to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed on April 17, 1895.  One of the most notable features of Japanese rule in Taiwan was the "top-down" nature of social change. While local activism certainly played a role, most of the social, economic, and cultural changes during this period were driven by technocrats in the colonial government. With the Japanese Government as the primary driving force, as well as new immigrants from the Japanese Home Islands, Taiwanese society was sharply divided between the rulers and the ruled. The properity of Japan Empire were significantly growth in the late of 19th century, thus its colony were developed as well as the Japan itself. In order to maintain the currency used  in the colony, the Japanese Rule in Taiwan began to developed a local bank.  

The Bank of Taiwan office, in Jurnatan, on the west side
of the Jurnatan Central Station and the Bank of Taiwan logo's.
(Source: Krisna Wariyan and Wikipedia)

The Bank of Taiwan was established as Taiwan's central bank in 1899 by Taiwan's Japanese government. The bank's creation was authorized in 1897 by the Bank Act of Taiwan which encouraged Japanese enterprises, such as the Mitsubishi and Mitsui Groups, to invest in Taiwan. The money invested in the Taiwan Bank came directly from the Japanese government. The Taiwan Bank was the second largest Japanese bank in Southeast Asia.  The bank branches itself were created in other parts of Asia as the empire expanded, including areas in China and Southeast Asia. In Dutch-Indie, the bank firstly established in Surabaya in 1915, then followed by Semarang then Batavia, in the next few years. The branch of Bank of Taiwan in Semarang was in Jurnatan, by the side of Indische Motor Club office. Curently, the huilding was demolished and changed into Jurnatan business complex. The Architect firms of Karsten, Lutjens & Toussaint is the designer of this fancy building. One more, the Karsten's masterpiece, unfortunatelly the building was demolished around 1970's.

Since the Japanese seized the Dutch-Indies, the banking regulation were all taken over by the Japanese. Soon the Japanese Bank like Bank of Taiwan, and then Yokohama Specie Bank have a big roles taken over the banking system from the Nederlands Bank. A large number of Japanese companies were encouraged to launch into business in the Dutch-Indies, this also made those Japanese Bank gained a great chance to developed , but this did not last long. In March 1942  The Southern Development Bank was founded by Japanese Government. The Japanese Government urge to established the central bank in their occupied areas which would be empowered to issue banknotes. In fact, the SDB utilized both the YSB and the Taiwan Bank to establish its representations and branches, which means in fact that its business actually conducted through these banks. That’s why, the roles of Yokohama Specie Bank and the Bank of Taiwan reduced, those were become of mere bit players in the financial world in Dutch-Indies .

After the war is over and the Dutch-Indies turn into Republik Indonesia, the fortune didn’t improved. In the late of 50’s decades, while the Dutch-owned banks were all nationalized, under the spirit of inciting nationalism and independence and through Government Regulation No. 2 of 1959, other foreign banks (non-Dutch) were all liquidated, as well as Bank of Taiwan. Indonesia’s foreign and domestic political policies as well as the nationalization move by the Indonesian government sparked foreign customers to close their bank accounts and return to their home countries. A number of foreign individuals and companies shifted their banking activities to Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI). As a result, the amount of funds extended by the foreign banks dropped sharply. The extending of development and trading credits was finally taken over by the national banks. The nationalizing of the Dutch banks was a preliminary step of the national banks’ existence in the Indonesia’s economy.

Source:  

History of Bank Indonesia : Banking Period from 1953-1959

Indonesia and the War Myths and Realities (KITLV)

An Heritage Mosque in Jomblang, Masjid Jami Al Amanah

Masjid Al Amanah, but its well known as Masjid Jami Djomblang means The Great Mosque of Djomblang, once its became the biggest mosque in Jomblang neigborhood, Semarang. (source: Locale Techniek, 1937)

Its already June! Yeah the time is runnig out for the 8^th Semester students like me, everytime is “when I’ll graduated” in my mind, hell yeah! Its really happened mates, but okay gotta no worries about that, the life is beautifull outside right? 

The front terrace of Masjid Jami Jomblang (The Great Mosque of Jomblang).
The plaque commemorating mosque construction
were located in the left side of the leftmost doors.

A good movie, ntitled Sang Kiai were just released (see the trailers here) . A good kinda historical-based movie I guess, cant wait to watch it soon. According to its official websites, the films recounts the life of KH. Hasyim Asy’ari, a prominent Islamic figure from Pesantren Tebu Ireng, Jombang . He also the central figures in the Nadhlatul Ulama organization, the biggest Islamic based organization in Indonesia, founded on 1926. Here in the films Sang Kiai, the plots were the story of KH. Hasyim Asy’ari as the central figures in the foundation of Indonesia Independence. He was the role models during the Japanese occupation and the Revolution for Independence from 1942-1947 in determining the direction and the mass mobilization of the moslem . With his Jihad fatwa , KH. Hasyim urge and persuade the peoples to fight on the side of Republic Indonesia against the invaders.

The Masjid Jami Djomblang in 2013, seems the structure
of the roofs has been changed.

Talking about this film which most of its settings were located in Semarang, its remind me about one’s of the Nadhlatul Ulama mosque in Jomblang. A couple weeks ago, when visiting my friends house in Jomblang, I found this mosque while I wanna pray on Ashar time. Seen from the plaque, this mosque will celebrate its 80^th anniversary this December, 2013. On plaque its written,

Peringatan berdirinya masjid di Jomblang yang diperjaban bermula pada hari ahad kliwon 12 djumadil awal 1352 tahun hijriah atau 3 September 1933, selesai pada penghabisan bulan syaban 1332 tahun hijriah atau desember 1933, dari daya upaya djamaah Nadhlatul Ulama cabang  semarang bagian tamirul masjid 

The commemoration of the construction of this Mosque  in Jomblang, started in 12 Kliwon Jumadil Akhir , 1352 Hijri or September 3rd 1933, and finished on the ends of Syaban 1332 Hijri or December 1933, from the effort of the Semarangs Nadhlatul Ulama congregation. The official name of the mosque itself is Masjid Jami' Al Amanah.  Masjid is Indonesian word for mosque, actually its taken from arabic language, as well as Jami' which mean great. So according to the name, this supposed to be one's of the main mosque in the neigborhood. Al Amanah means "The Trust", but also has a broader Islamic meaning. It is the moral responsibility of fulfilling one's obligations due to Allah and fulfilling one's obligations due to Allah's discipline disciples.

Due to this Mosque was belong to Nadhlatul Ulama organization, so it’s a compulsory for the committee to celebrate the anniversary the construction of this mosque that also well known as Masjid Jami' Jomblang by held watching together Sang Kiai films, their ancestor and their notable figures. In my opinion ;)  

HYGEIA, "De Groote" Mineral Water from Semarang

Inside the Hygeia Factory, still could be seen in the background the stained glass window pattern, now was entirely dissapeared. In the top-right corner were the trademarks of Hygeia. (source: tropenmuseum)

If we take a walk to the fish market in Jurnatan, nearly end on the alley we would found an old building which abandoned with an inscription adorned on the walls, PABERIK HYGEIA. I believe, not so many people know, this is a factory of highly-innovative product that is very useful for the development of Indonesia in the scope of both chemistry and healthcare. Long time ago before Mr. Tirto Utomo with his bottled-water products, which now dominate the market developed in 1974, in Semarang, its built the factory of Hygeia, with their products is soda-water and mineral water. This company were developed by H F Tillema, one's of the great innovators during the colonial period.

The current condition of Hygeia Factory in Jurnatan now its used as the
cooking oil warehouse. The building were badly abandoned. 

Born as Hendrik Freerk Tillema, he spent his chilhood in Echten, a village in the Friesland, Netherlands. He was born July 5, 1870. his father, Sikke Tillema is a school principal. When Hendrik was seven years old his mother died. In 1896 at the age of 25 he went to the East Indies and tried his lucky in the city of Semarang. In Semarang, he worked in Samarangsche Apotheek, owned by R. Klaasesz en Co. According to the contract, he received a salary of 200 guilders monthly for the first year. In 1899 he was able to buy the company. he retains the name Klaasesz en Co.. In the age of barely 30, he became the sole owner and leader in the company.

Pharmacist jobs, such as weighing and preparing chemicals substance was his daily activity, thus once he got so bored about his job. In his first year as a boss, he was trying to find something new. When he read an articles on Het Pharmaceutisch Weekblad, he found that millions of soda bottles imported into Java island annualy. He got an idea,  if he is able to sell a hundred thousand bottles of soda, he'll gained such significant revenue.

Then it start, in a few years Samarangsche-Apotheek had an subsidiaries to made a bottled-water then its developed into a hypermodern soda factory. Tillema being so strict related to the hygiene thingy. He knows that pure drinking water is very important for health. At first, he failed to mixed the oxygen with the pure water until he remembered the lessons during his high school about the laws of nature, "Salt could dissolved quickly in the warm water while the gas in the cold water". Then he realized it, he brings tons of ice cubes but then he found that it was too expensive. Finally, he wrap the problems with ordered tons of water with the temperature of 5 degrees Celsius from the ice factory. Its gained success and soon his soda factory growth significantly.

Dr. H F Tillema, circa 1935 (source:KITLV)

In 1901 he built the first factory in Semarang where his workers purify and fill the water into the bottles on the conveyor belt, a most modern system on that time. People called his product as a blank water, and this have an attracted etiquette in the bottle, that is a picture of a black cat with a tail that waved leapfrog letters HYGEIA! The new brand for the Tillema bottled-waters. Hygeia (or actually Hygieia) is the daughter of Asklepios, the Greek god of health protection that now become the brand of the Tillema bottled-waters.

In 1901 he succeeded to sell 500.000 bottles of Hygeia. Also, in early of December 1901, he married Anna Sophia Weehuizen, a 24-year-old teacher. Anna was born and growth in Java, from a family with ten children. His father died at a young age. However, as her mother suggest her, he became one of the girls who continue her education until high school grade. Later, after marriage she became an advisor for the Hygeia marketing and publication. Ten months after their marriage, Anna gave birth to her first child. Two years later the second child was born. Tillema was loved to be circled by his family, so that he took his wife's family members to work in his company.

The Hygeia Ads, here its started with
the words De Groote mineralwater
fabriek te Semarang is wel de Hygeia
fabriek (eng: De Groote mineral factory
in Semarang is the Hygeia factory).
(source: OASE documentation)

While the Coca-Cola company in the early of 20th century have a good advertising patterns, Tillema also used the same way by adopting what the Coca-Cola done. He shared an ashtrays with Hygeia brand printed on it.. In the potential intersection in Semarang, he hung a billboard that interested the peoples to bought his botled-water, Hygeia. The photos of the streets where he placed the billboard itself were printed into postcard and shared freely with the phrase on the postcard, "Hygeia Lemonade is incredible!". When the Gementee (eng: town council) asked him to revoke all of his billboard, he switch the publicity  with using balloon reads Hygeia, that hovered in the sky of Semarang.

In the 20th century, the photography starts to developed, almost everybody pay an interest on it, likewise  Tillema. He made an album about several photos of Semarang scenery and on the backside of the book he put Hygeia brand, also the price list of his products. He spent 50.000 Guilders for advertisement annualy and soon he will enjoyed the results. Hygeia product both the carbonated lemonade drinks and the mineral water were very popular throughout the East-Indies. At that time the price of the product is 25 Guilders, and six empty bottles, can be exchanged for a full six bottles for only 75 Guilders. 

On 1910, Tillema became one's of Het Gemeenteraad (eng: City Council) of Semarang. Because of his services, Het Gemeenteraad van Semarang perpetuate the name Tillema on a park in the Candi Baru region. The park who situated near the official house of De Javasche Bank agent and in front of Ereveld Candi were named Tillema Plein or Tillema Park. Currently we recognize the park as Gajahmungkur Park, because of its situated in Gajahmungkur regency.

source: http://sunjayadi.com/pengusaha-perintis-ajer-belanda.html