A LIFE FREE FROM TRAlVIMELS: SOEWARSm DJOJOPOESPITO AND HER NOVEL BlHTEN HET GAREEL

Gerard Termorshuizen University of Leyden

The Indonesian writer Soewarsih Djojosapoetro, a descendant from the Djojopoespito became known in the Tjirebon dynasty, and Hatidjah whose through her novel Buiten het family were rich Chinese who had gareel, which appeared in 1940. 1 Her book converted to Islam. Thanks to their contains the strongly autobiographical wealthy Chinese grandparents, Soewarsih record of the experiences of a young and her brothers and sisters had a carefree married couple working at nationalist childhood. The mother was a gentle, schools in several towns in Java. In somewhat shy woman who remained in the Soelastri, the character through whose eyes shadow of her much older husband, who we witness the events narrated, we liked to play the grand seigneur, but at the recognize Soewarsih herself; in Soedarmo same time proved to be a bad administrator she depicts a portrait of her husband of the business capital entrusted to him by Soegondo. Both Soewarsih and Soegondo his father-in-law. He occupied a leading Djojopoespito belonged to the group of position in the desa community on account western educated young Indonesians, who of his abilities and education. preferred working for the education and Adventurous by nature, he had seen much improvement of their own people to a more of Java than the small Tjibatok, reasonably well paid job in a government where he settled later. He was a gripping school. This choice meant an uncertain story-teller and a talented dalang who used existence which led to many to give performances with his own puppets. disappointments and often made them Coming from a family which attached doubt whether the ideals they cherished great importance to education and could be realized. Living in bitter poverty learning, he used the prestige of his most of the time, this group formed an aristocratic background to gain places for intellectual proletariat in whose lives the his children at schools in Buitenzorg, nationalist movement had occupied a where western education was provided. major place even while they were still The fact that in doing so he treated his sons students. and daughters equally --"progress lies in It becomes clear from the the hands of woman", he declared in his unpublished-- reminiscences of her youth desa-- was characteristic of his advanced how much this applied to Soewarsih outlook. Djojopoespito.2 In her memoirs she looks The so-called 'ethical movement' at the back to the first eighteen years of her life beginning of the century had given state and describes the difficulties which a education for Indonesian children a simple desa-girl had to face, before she considerable stimulus. But opportunities could work for her people. for girls were still very limited. It was therefore very important that Kartini­ Soewarsih (her family and friends schools, Dutch schools for girls from the called her Tjitjih) was born in 1912 in the indigenous aristocracy, were founded from desa Tjibatok, some twenty kilometres 1913 onwards. This happened on the south-west of Buitenzorg (the present-day initiative of Mr. C.Th. van Deventer and ), on the main road to Bantam. She his wife. The Kartini school in Buitenzorg was the third of six children of a mixed was opened in 1914 and Soewarsih entered marriage between Raden Bagoes N oersaid it in 1918, two years after her elder sister Soewarsih Djojopoespito 31

Soewarni. Their schooling was paid for by from the kampongs. Even as a child she their grandparents for whom this became was always the centre of attention. She an increasing burden in the course of the found it easy to get along with people, was ensuing years. At first the sisters lived in quick-witted in discussion and full of the boarding house of the school, but when ideas which she was able to communicate later this became too costly, they stayed at persuasively. She was a born leader. home with their parents. Mainly from 1930 onwards, when she had In her memoirs Soewarsih speaks with become Mrs. Pringgodigdo, she played a gratitude of the Dutch lady whose task it very important role in the feminist was "to teach us to speak proper Dutch, to movement in . acquire Dutch table manners and to give up It was inevitable that the more introvert the habit of sleeping at irregular hours; she Soewarsih, who as a younger sister was also watched over our moral development." always taken under Nining's wing, Both sisters were gifted pupils and also should for a long time remain in the attended the M.U.L.O. school (advanced shadow of her admired sister. The feelings elementary education) in Buitenzorg. of uncertainty with which Soewarsih Some figures will explain what this meant struggled not only in her youth but also for an indigenous girl in those days. In later, may be partly explained through this 1918 Soewarsih was one of about fifty girls relationship with her older sister, which who were admitted to the first form of the was also the reason why developing her Kartini school. Thirteen of them completed strong personality was such a difficult all seven forms, but only four were allowed process. In the middle of the thirties it to attend advanced education. Thus became clear how unyielding Soewarsih Soewarsih and her sister were in an could be even towards her sister, when she exceptional position. They themselves opposed Nining's constant suggestions and became sharply aware of this, when for the advice and, together with her husband, first time they came in contact with continued along the difficult path which she European and Eurasian fellow students. had chosen much earlier. The experience of being considered After the M.U.L.O.-school Soewarsih 'inferior' by their classmates and the attended the European teacher training impossibility of breaking through the college in Soerabaja from 1928 to 1931. She dividing lines between themselves and the received free education and her room and others, strengthened their feeling of being board were paid for by the Kartini fund. 'different'. Of that period Soewarsih was to She was one of only two Indonesians write: "Although we were still very young selected for a class of thirty students. In at that time, we realized that life would not her memoirs she talks about it: "At the be easy for us and that intelligence and beginning my Dutch classmates were learning would be the only weapons with slightly contemptuous of the two little which we could overcome the numerous Javanese who had been chosen to study with difficulties. " them. Their attitude was understandable In their uncertain search for their own and I could forgive them, because in their identity, nationalist feelings were playing eyes at that time Indonesians were an increasingly important role. Both of considered inferior. Keeping a school them joined 'Jong Java', a nationalist 'white' gave style and standing to such a youth movement. Even at the age of sixteen school. Because of our presence its status Soewarni --or rather Nining, as she was had been seriously damaged." However, always called-- was one of the prominent she also writes that they gained the respect figures in this movement. She was, for of their fellow students on account of their instance, the moving spirit behind excellent records. Her Dutch teacher gave providing education for illiterate women her high marks for her essays: "this was a 32 Gerard Termorshuizen

token of great courage, given the situation linked with secondary education, were far . in those days; if he had given lower marks, too few; from 1932 onwards, mainly nobody would have protested, because the because of far-reaching cutbacks, no more difference between the Dutch and new schools were founded. In these Indonesians was so great and seemed so circumstances the Indonesian nationalist unbridgeable. " leaders decided to deal themselves with the The same teacher told his students enormous problem of illiteracy among about Multatuli and read from his works. their people --,about 95% in the nineteen The great importance of Multatuli's thirties-- by (ounding their own schools. influence on young Indonesians showed As the native teachers in these schools itself also in Soewarsih's case: "When my had themselves received a Dutch education, teacher had read something from Max it was a matter of course that the materials Havelaar, I no longer felt lonely at home. and methods they used were western My life had become meaningful again, orientated. Moreover, the nationalists and I realized which direction I had to give understood very well that the schooling they to my future. I heard the girls next door gave had to meet the requirements of laughing and enjoying themselves. And I modern society and that such a western said to myself: 'My life differs from theirs. direction was in the interest also of their One can say that we have no 'youth', but own future state. At the same time, 'youth' is not granted to us, young however, they had to think about the way in Indonesians. For, as soon as we have left which the Indonesian identity could be school, a difficult task lies ahead of us: to be retained in their schools and the leaders of our people.' It seemed arrogant nationalist consciousness could be to put it this way, but in later years it developed. In this connection the founding, appeared that my generation had to in 1922, of the Tam a n - Sis w 0 contribute a lot to the nationalist (Kindergarten) movement by the Javanese movement, albeit only as small aristocrat Ki Hadjar Dewantoro was an contributors, not as the leading figures we important event. This organization, as had earlier imagined." soon became apparent, was a great success; It was in those Soerabaja years that in 1940 there were about 250 Taman-Siswo Soewarsih came in contact with nationalist schools. They were based on a program education. It happened in Bandoeng where which emphasized national cultural she often stayed with her sister Nining values, but at the same time remained open during school holidays. Together with to enriching elements from other, some of her friends Nining had opened a especially western, cultures. In order not to small school, a so-called 'wild' school --not alienate the children from their own subsidized by the government-- where environment and way of life and also to Indonesian children were brought up in a keep the costs as low as possible, Taman­ nationalist spirit. These nationalist Siswo schools used simple classrooms and schools had existed from the beginning of materials. Ki Hadjar Dewantoro's ideas the twenties, but since then their number determined not only the character of his had considerably increased. The own movement, but also exercised development of this unofficial education considerable influence on the 'wild' had been reinforced by the fact that the schools in general. government had failed to meet the rapidly As we have seen, Soewarsih had become growing demand for western schooling acquainted with the nationalist education among the Indonesian people. This while she was a student. She had schooling gave access to the European experienced how poor but idealistic labour market in the Indies. Dutch teachers, together with the equally poor primary schools for native children, parents of their pupils, tried to organize Soewarsih Djojopoespito ways of raIsmg the money needed for nationalist cause. In 1927 he was appointed classrooms and teaching materials. Now, chairman of the Perhimpoenan Peladjar­ she herself was taking an active part in the Peladjar Indonesia (Federation of feminist movement, giving instruction in Indonesian Students) and one year later he child care and other practical subjects to chaired the second Indonesian Youth women in Soerabaja. In her memoirs she Congress which became famous in writes about the fate of women: "Married at Indonesian history, on account of its fifteen, three or more children, hard work, Soempah Pemoeda (Oath of the Youth), in drudgery in fact; not yet thirty when the which the unity o(indonesia was stated for first bloom is over, repudiated by their the first time. 'Thus, like Soewarsih, husbands, without money to take care of the Soegondo was a nationalist from the very children. Such was the fate of these beginning and, like his young wife, ordinary Indonesian women." The considered the provision of schooling for education of children and the feminist the children of the common people his main movement occupied a significant place in task. Indonesian nationalism during the When Soewarsih started her work in twenties and thirties. Gradually the the service of the nationalist movement in conviction developed that women could also 1931, times had become more difficult. make an important contribution in the From the end of the twenties --after the struggle for independence. But in a society communist rebellion in Bantam of 1926 in which women traditionally had an and the founding of the 'Vaderlandsche inferior position and polygamy was Club' (an association of colonial diehards) widespread, Soewarsih saw herself as a reaction to this-- the differences of confronted with the tremendous task of opinion between the Dutch government and making men recognize her as an equal. Indonesian nationalists were considerably. One of her aims in life was to become the sharpened. Increasing police action led to equal partner in the struggle for a shared the arrest of the main political leaders and ideal. their deportation to the notorious Boven­ After finishing her studies at the Digoel and other camps. Of course, in this teacher's training college --she was one of atmosphere the pressure on nationalist the very first Indonesian teachers with a education also increased considerably. European certificate-- Soewarsih taught at Dutch control of nationalist teachers had a nationalist school in Batavia. Soon existed for years, on the basis of the 'Wilde afterwards she married Soegondo Scholen Ordonnantie' of 1923, but now Djojopoespito who was working at the same ~ repression was increasingly felt. The fear 'wild' school. It was an 'open' marriage, of arrest or at least of a teaching ban, the in other words a marriage held together by daily improvisations in order not to the partners' free choice, which until succumb economically or psychologically recently had been absolutely impossible in and the tensions in their own circle taxed Javanese society. the idealism and endurance of these people. Soegondo Djojopoespito was born in It often meant a constant struggle and for Toeban (East-Java) in 1905. He went to the Soewarsih and Soegondo it also led to a H.I.S. (Dutch primary education for nomadic existence in Java. natives) in his place of birth, and to the M.U.L.O. in Soerabaja. Subsequently he The period in Soewarsih's and attended the A.M.S. (secondary education) Soegondo's life which is described in in Djogjakarta. From 1925 he was a Buiten het gareel, covers about four years, student at the School of Law in Batavia and from 1933 to 1937. The year before, as the got his first degree in 1928. Then he broke novel tells us, Soewarsih, who had gone off his studies in order to work for the from Batavia to a teaching post in 34 Gerard Termorshuizen

Poerwakarta (West-Java), had again whose husband is unfaithful to her. She joined her husband who had just become sent the manuscript to the publishing house headmaster of the Taman-Siswo school in Balai Poestaka, the official 'Kantoor voor Bandoeng; in 1937 she was again in Volkslectuur'. However, it was refused Bandoeng, but now unemployed, after because, according to Balai Poestaka, it disappointing experiences at a nationalist was not didactic and its style was too school in Semarang --in the novel this is complicated. In/short, the novel was not Hapsoro's school-- and a stay with her traditional etiough and therefore not family in Djogjakarta. With the suitable for ;the reading public. Many information we have about Soewarsih's years later, in 1959, the novel was published life, it is not difficult to show how much the under the title Marjanah by the same author used her own experiences, usually publisher. preserving their chronological order, as the The refusal of her manuscript deeply starting point for her book. This affects not disappointed Soewarsih. Some time later, only episodes and events, but also certain in 1938, she and her husband, who had individuals. One could even call Buiten found employment again in Bandoeng, het gareel a roman it clef. Soelastri and met Edgar du Perron who had recently Soedarmo stand for Soewarsih and come back to his country of origin. This Soegondo, and Marti and Kartonegoro are contact had come about through Kritiek en modelled on Soewarsih's sister Nining Opbouw, a progressive, anti-colonial and her husband Abdoel Karim magazine which had been founded in Pringgodigdo. In Soetrisno, who with Bandoeng by the social-democrat D.M.G. Soedarmo opens a little school in Koch in 1938. In the course of that year Du Buitenzorg, we recognize Soejitno Perron had joined the editorial board, on Mangoenkoesoemo, a brother of the which Indonesian nationalists were also prominent nationalist Tjipto represented. This was unique, given the Mangoenkoesoemo. Also Soelarso, an ex­ colonial situation of those days. prisoner in Boven-Digoel and a colleague Soewarsih, who had contributed some of Soelastri and Soedarmo, must be drawn articles to the magazine, and her husband from real life. Soewarsih's parents are were in touch with this group. also present in the book. One character The short period during which even figures under his own name, though Soewarsih and Soegondo were in contact only vaguely depicted. It is the nationalist with Du Perron, who returned to the leader Soekarno. Netherlands in 1939, was a high point in Soewarsih Djojopoespito wrote her book their lives which turned out to be of great in Dutch. This is remarkable in itself and importance for their future. With his sharp had to do with earlier events which, in part, insight into human relationships, du are described in the novel. After her Perron immediately noticed their social disappointment in Semarang, Soewarsih and especially their mental isolation. In had found shelter with her family in an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust Djogjakarta. Soegondo was somewhere and through completely frank discussions else looking for work and their marriage of their problems, they regained their self­ went through a crisis. To take her mind off esteem. things and considering that she could Du Perron heard of the rejection of perhaps be useful in some other way, she Soewarsih's manuscript and persuaded her wrote a short novel in her nat.ive to take up writing again and to· describe her Sundanese about the problem of .the own experiences· during the last few years. relationship between man and woman in He suggested she should write· in Dutch, the marriage. The novel describes the language which she could handle better unhappy married life ofa young woman than her native Sundanese. And thus she Soewarsih Djojopoespito 35 began writing Buiten het gareel. Du As we read the novel, we can hear Perron coached her and gave her his essay Soewarsih's voice and detect her Uren met Dirk Coster as an example of a compelling need to put order into that plain, honest and personal style. As he jumble of experiences and emotions of the himself had just finished his Het land van last years, to clear her mind in order to herkomst, he could talk to her about the prepare for the future. She knew that the problems of the autobiographer. This future, too, would b~(aifficult. Du Perron's concern for 'writing' we can find in words of farewell, ; life has nothing to do Soewarsih's book; it even decided the final with career; self-Elsteem is most valuable," form of the novel. I am referring here to the were to serve Soewarsih as guide and first and part of the last chapter in which, as comfort in her future life. it were, the real story is embedded and Buiten het gareel is a nationalist novel. where Soelastri does not figure as the main The main characters are nationalists who character, but as the woman who is try to realize their ideals in the classroom. confronted with the complications and the In the book attention is concentrated on the possibilities of being a writer. It is very characters themselves, on their tensions likely that Du Perron exerted a decisive and conflicts. The struggle of Indonesian influence on this structure, which was women for emancipation is also something new in modern Indonesian emphasized: the fight of women who want to literary prose. have the same rights and responsibilities Du Perron tqok the manuscript with as men. It was the fight of Soewarsih him to the Netherlands, looked for a Djojopoespito herself and we meet her in publisher and wrote an introduction. In Soelastri, to whom it is of great importance 1940 it was published by De Haan in to be the equal of her husband Soedarmo in Utrecht, but on account of the war it did not marriage and in her career. reach the Indonesian reading public. During the turbulent time following the Soewarsih and Soegondo were working declaration of the Indonesian Republic in in Batavia when the Netherlands were 1945, the reprint of 1946 fared no better.3 occupied by Germany in 1940. As The importance of Du Perron's intellectuals who believed in democracy, influence on Buiten het gareel becomes they were aware that cooperation with the clear if we look at the novel against the Dutch was necessary if there was to be a background of pre-war Indonesian chance to stop authoritarian imperialism literature. In addition to its innovative from Japan. In a startling article in form, compared to the Indonesian literary Kritiek en Opbouw of August 1941, norms of the time, there are also new Soewarsih made an urgent appeal to the elements in its content. Overwritten government to release the imprisoned descriptions and moralizing passages nationalist leaders and to wage a joint were significant ingredients in fight against "the menacing fascist power" Indonesian literature during the thirties. for the sake of "the democratic principle". Soewarsih's novel, however, is not Her plea proved to be in vain. Even earlier 'overwritten', and the book offers no her wish for cooperation with the Dutch had didactic message .. It is modern also iri the led her to take another, no less remarkable way Soewarsih depicts her alter ego step: she had accepted a job at a government Soelastri and analyses her feelings with school in Batavia, a decision which self-critical irony, especially when stemmed from her profound democratic 'sentimentality', which is always in the convictions. background, threatens to carry her away. With the Japanese invasion in March Her honesty at these moments is one of the 1942 Dutch colonial rule came to an end. It most striking characteristics of the book. was under the new masters that Indonesia 36 Gerard Termorshuizen

prepared for its future existence in the time with humour and irony, for she freedom. In 1942 Soewarsih and her could laugh at herself. husband moved to Djogjakarta where they It was not surprising that Soewarsih - remained for the rest of their lives. spontaneous as she was and open and direct Between 1945 and 1950 they were members in the way she approached people- had of a national council which advised the trouble settling in Djogjakarta. The Indonesian government. For a short time Javanese atmosyhere oppressed her, as it Soegondo was also a minister in the oppressed Soelastri in Buiten het gareel: government. In 1951 they retired from "In fact .Soelastri disliked her public life. As democratic socialists --they environment; with her healthy nature she . belonged to Soetan Sjahrir's circle-- they felt rebellious against this extremely felt increasingly alienated from the refined culture and was unpleasantly political and social-economic policy which struck by the dullness in the movements of Indonesia pursued. In a letter of 1973, the people. She realized that her feelings of Soewarsih, writing on poverty and social depression were caused by the difference injustice, noticed: "We have paid and are between Javanese and Sun danese, based on still paying a high price for our freedom." ancient antipathies." Moreover, They were condemned to a new isolation, Soewarsih found Central Java gloomy. She "thrown away like a rag" as Soewarsih constantly felt homesick for the bright used to say bitterly. And continually she skies, the fresh green and the mountains of had to worry about the money they and their the Preanger, her native soil, and for the three children needed to live and, later, people there with whom she felt at home. about insulin for her diabetes. N ow and Only rarely could she go there. What she then she became seriously ill. Moreover, especially remembered of her visit to she suffered from feelings of uncertainty Holland in 1953 at the invitation of Sticusa, and doubt about the usefulness of her a cultural organization, were the fresh struggles and her life afterwards. She greenery, the smell and the colours of yearned for some recognition and spring which reminded her of the early appreciation, which she· did not receive mornings in Tjibatok. even as a writer of Indonesian short stories. When, at the beginning of 1976, she In June 1970 I met Soewarsih for the received a literary award, she wrote with first time. On that evening and on the some pride in a letter: "at least some following evenings we talked about Buiten appreciation and some money." She found het gareel and its background. She felt relaxation in handicrafts; she made glad that there were still young people who woollen toy animals for her grandchildren read her book, that she had not been entirely and little table mats and beautiful crochet forgotten. Some years later, when she read stoles. She enjoyed doing this and, the passages which Rob Nieuwenhuys had moreover, it provided some extra income: written about her work in his Oost-Indische "I do not want to burden anybody, certainly Spiegel4 and received the anthology Het not my children who have their own laat je niet los in which a fragment from difficulties. Then I can die with the feeling Buiten het gareel had been included5 , she that I bothered no one, and that I did my best wrote in April 1974: "I did not know that during my whole life and that I always what I wrote at that time would remain remained good-humoured, however valuable and would attract attention difficult things were", she wrote in a letter. today." A few months later Andries In this she did succeed, cheerfully and with Teeuw, professor of Malay and Indonesian courage .. She could tell gripping stories language and literature in Leiden and I and sometimes speak sharply about the made a proposal to translate her novel into many disappointments in her life, but all Indonesian with financial help from the Soewarsih Djojopoespito

Dutch government. Soewarsih translated Jaarboek van de maatschappij der Nederlandse the book herself and it was published in letterkunde te Leiden (1978-1979), p. 39-48. A list 1975, thirty-five years after the first of Soewarsih Djojopoespito's main writings was printing. She felt, as she wrote in a letter, added to this article. In Indische Letteren, vol. 1, "the happiness of an old woman who sees no. 4 (December 1986) one can find three contributions dealing with Soewarsih herself again as a young woman of forty Djojopoespito and her. work: Robert-Henk years ago, and now feels that she had not Zuidinga, 'Soewarsih Dj~opoespito, E. du Perron lived in vain .... I consider my book as a en de roman Buiten wet gareel,' A Teeuw, 'Een kind of last will and testament for our buitenbeentje in de literatuurgeschiede-nis' and young people, a simple thing which I can Gerard Termorshuizen, 'Een leven in isolement'. offer them. Life without ideals is barren As regards the proper names, I have and dry." preserved the old spelling of before 1972 which With the money she got for her was used by Soewarsih Djojopoespito. translation, she had her house redecorated 2The memoirs concerned are in my possession. and painted in bright colours: "It is more 3After 1946 the novel was reprinted twice: in 1947 cheerful this way than the dark green the third printing came out, and in 1986 the fourth appeared (publ. by Nijgh & Van Ditmar, which depresses and reminds me of th~ Amsterdam). For the last reprint I wrote an grave (. .. ). N ow I am not thinking of 'afterword'. illness or other unpleasant things. I feel 4Rob Nieuwenhuys, Oost-Indische Spiegel; Wat something like a new life, a kind of early Nederlandse schrijvers en dichters over Indonesie spring, which will enable me to write hebben geschreven, vanaf de eerste jaren der something new." compagnie tot op heden (Amsterdam, 1978), p. Soewarsih translated her book under 401-404. the title Manusia bebas (Man set free)6. 5Het laat je niet los. Een keuze uit de Indisch­ This "means a human being," she writes, Nederlandse letterkunde van 1935 tot heden, ed. "free from prejudice, free from fear, from and introd. Rob Nieuwenhuys, p. 138-142. conventions and traditions. In my efforts 6Suwarsih Djojopuspito, Manusia bebas (, 1975). to be mentally free, I often experienced failures and met hostility among my own people. I am aware that a human being must first be liberated before thinking of building a better future for the nation." During the first months of 1977, my wife and I often visited her and her husband. Her unfailingly bright and dynamic mind made one forget her physical decline. She was eagerly looking forward to a stay in her native region, but this plan came to nothing: the doctor diagnosed lung cancer in her husband and she had to take care of him. A few months later, on August 24th, 1977, she suddenly died of a cerebral haemorrhage. Soegondo followed her eight months later, on April 23rd,1978.

NOTES lEarlier I wrote on this subject in 'Soewarsih Djojopoespito', a so-called 'Levensbericht', in