A Portrayal of an Indo-Woman in the Dutch Colonial Era Irfan

Irfan Furqonnudin SITI RAYATI: A Portrayal of an Indo-woman in the Dutch Colonial Era SITI RAYATI: A Portrayal of an Indo-woman in the Dutch Colonial Era Irfan Furqonnudin English Language and Literature Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia [email protected] ABSTRACT: This study aims to investigate the descriptions of an Indo character in Moh. Sanoesi’s Siti Rayati and what alternative meanings can be found from the descriptions. Indo character was chosen because it is interesting to study, considering hybrid is the results of borderline engagements of cultural differences (Bhabha, 1994). To answer the questions, the data were gathered through textual analysis with close-reading approach. It was revealed that the Indo character is described in the sense of being superior, humble, in between and well-exposed by Dutch culture. From the categories, it may be inferred that there could have been an attempt by the writer to change the perception towards Indo-people’s stereotypes at that time. Keywords: Alternate-Meaning, Dutch Culture, Hybrid, Indo-People, Indo-People’s Stereotype, Sundanese Society, 1 Passage2014,2(1), 1-7 INTRODUCTION intention to elaborate how the novel Literary works can be used as a means could have this quality or capacity as a of expression. They can be used as means of uprising by focusing on how channels for voices to be heard when the main character is described in the other channels are blocked. This is novel. proven by how some writers during the There are reasons why this colonial era fought back the colonizers novel is an interesting subject for the by their writings. This kind of fighting research in this journal. First, its back became a trend during the Dutch publication was right in time of colonial in East-Indies (Indonesia uprisings against the colonial. Second, now), especially in the beginning of the novel was said to shake Sundanese the twentieth century. This could be life to its core by Rosidi. And the last possible, thanks to the colonial one is because it was published not by government’s ethical policy that Dutch-driven publisher, Balai-Pustaka allowed the people of East-Indies to so it can be categorized as feral get an education and literacy. Through readings which often times were filled education and literacy, the people with political pamphlets or ideological could fight back and raise other campaign by the writers. people’s consciousness to be free. One Siti Rayati, which was of the examples of this kind of writing published for the first time by Dahlan- is Siti Rayati by Moh. Sanoesi. This Bekti printing house in three volumes novel was published in the time when from 1923 to 1927, makes an there were many uprisings happening interesting research object as the in some places in Dutch colonial publication of the novel “coincided government’s territory in East-Indies. with a traumatic moment in the The character it has and its realistic nationalist period, the years 1926-27, setting could be interpreted as a fight when a number of Communist-inspired against the Dutch government. This uprisings against colonial authority journal has been written with the took place in (among other places) the 2 Irfan Furqonnudin SITI RAYATI: A Portrayal of an Indo-woman in the Dutch Colonial Era countryside of West Java” (Mukherjee: METHODOLOGY 2004). This novel was originally Siti Rayati makes an interesting object written in Sundanese and its English of research as its story, settings, version was published in 2009 by publication and characterization have Kiblat Buku Utama publishing at least a message that could mean company. something for people at that time The fact that the story is especially Sundanese people, a written in Sundanese (regional- message that, what Rosidi called, language spoken in West Java) and shook Sundanese life to its core. takes place in West Java territory, this To reveal that message, the novel is said to “shake Sundanese life researcher conducted a close reading to its core” (Rosidi, as taken from to the novel and found that the main Mukherjee: 2009) that means the novel character in the novel, Siti Rayati, is gives a significant political impact that depicted in ways that could mean makes the novel famous, especially for something and an impact to Sundanese those people living in West Java at that society at that time. time. Historically speaking, Siti FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION Rayati was also one of those “feral FINDINGS readings” or bacaan liar as it was not From the reading, the researcher could published by the Dutch-owned- make four categories of how Siti publisher Balai Pustaka. As taken from Rayati is described in the novel. The Mukherjee (2004), Siti Rayati first category covers the textual belonged to the ‘other’ group which evidence pointing at how Siti Rayati is often times used novels as their own described in a more superior nature. presses and political pamphlets The second category covers all the (Mukherjee: 2004). descriptions of Siti Rayati in the manner of being neutral or equal with anyone. The third category is for the 3 Passage2014,2(1), 1-7 way Siti Rayati is described in the done bad things to other people by sense of being in between. The fourth using their power. or the last category is for how Siti Siti Rayati is also depicted in Rayati is described to be influenced the sense of being in between. This in- well by Dutch culture. between-ness could be seen in the way Siti Rayati’s superiority could how she was described to have an be found in her appearance, appearance of a Dutch girl and intelligence and good manner. It is education like one too but she never found that she was described as a felt that she belonged to that race. She plump, fair and well-formed, and also was described to live a Dutch beautiful baby (p.55). She was also culture by seeing how she had described to outstrip many Dutch servants, how she supported herself children at school and came out the and her hobby of reading. Those second best (p.60). Her good manner indications led to a conclusion that Siti can be seen by how she treated other Rayati is in between. However, there people well without seeing their race was not any evidence showing that Siti or social class. The fact that she had a Rayati experience any identity crisis Dutch look but a good heart could also even she lived in between different be a sign of being superior. cultures. This is against the theory that Siti Rayati is also described in prolonged colonization may have the novel in the manner of being equal caused a colonized country, nation, or or in a neutral position of the Dutch individual suffer from contaminated and the native. In the novel, she is identity (Hamid, 2006). described as a person who did not see Siti Rayati is a girl that had a or treat anyone differently because of Dutch influence and it is shown by their race or social classes. However, how the character is described. She she was described to fight against the went to a Dutch school and got Priyayi class people because they had mingled with the Dutch students and sent to live with the Dutch teachers 4 Irfan Furqonnudin SITI RAYATI: A Portrayal of an Indo-woman in the Dutch Colonial Era constitute some evidence. The way she Sundanese people…(and) also the lived, how she had servants and the colonial government” (Rosidi, as taken way she was educated in schools for from Mukherjee: 2004). It probably Dutch were some evidence pointing to gave “voice to socialist, nationalist that. Her reading hobby she had was aspirations at the very centre of the also the evidence. whirlwind of political change in the Indies during the 1920's” (2004: 204). DISCUSSION On the other hand, the The Indo character in Moh. Sanoesi’s alternative meaning can be drawn from Siti Rayati is a hybrid to a certain this novel’s Indo character’s portrayal. degree. It can be seen by how she is The Indo character presented in the described in the sense of being in text and her characterization can between. This in-between-ness is that possibly an invitation to the readers of Bhabha’s concept of “the third especially Sundanese people to think space” (1994). The character is also that Indo people could be seen equally described to experience “intercultural as they also could do good things too. transfer” (Hiepko, as cited from This is possible because at the Nyman: 2007) when she is exposed by time when the novel was firstly Dutch culture through her education published, some of Indo people were and her time living with Dutch marginalized by the people because at families. Her hybridity is also shown that time the Native women “were when she is described with more procured as concubines” and “Such superior manners but then she chose to procurement subsequently caused their stay humble and even stand for the rejection by their own sexist society, people against Priyayi class people’s as well as their disenfranchisement by misdeeds. the same racist colonizers that abused This kind of plot and them.” (Kwa: 2005, 1). In other words, characterization might be the ones that the Indo people were seen as inferior “raised the consciousness of the by both Dutch and native society. 5 Passage2014,2(1), 1-7 While the Dutch saw their inferiority is their education system or racial because of their idea of “purity” of feature. white race, the native people saw them as inferior because they “considers that CONCLUSION being a mistress as licentious and an This journal article has been written to immoral status of a woman.” discover an alternative meaning behind (Rosyidah: 2007) the description of the Indo character of In this novel the Indo character Siti Rayati novel by Moh.

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