mother- His mother a daughter
of a German father and a Java
nese mother.
He furthermore lived in
Semarang, which city is often
considered the cradle of mod
ern political trends in Indo
nesian thinking. Here for the
first time in history a Club
of Franchise-holders was foun
ded (1903, Semarangse Kies
Vereniging)Here lived the
Qpiggest group of poor Indo's,
with the greatest determinat
ion to fight for better living
standards
Douwes Dekker had interna
tional experience. With his
brother he had fought in the
Boer War as a volunteerBack
in the Dutch East Indies he
did not accept^a job as civil
clerk, but tried to stand on
hi s own
The bicycle was getting at
tention and popularity in
those years, and Douwes Dekker
organized bicycle races on a
self built stadium (behind the
Deca Park in Batavia)being a
prominent racer himself. In
^Later years he became more
serious and concentrated on
education. All alone but with
great stubborness and courage
against the public opinion and
opposition of the government
he designed an own system of
education, based on the his
tory and future of Indonesia.
He even designed simple school
buildings of cheap material
(bamboo) and cheap teaching
materials, thus urging the
people to make its own educa
tion.
Of course this method of
independent thinking and
working stirred the attention,
imagination and activity of
the Indonesian peoples, but
again: nobody thought of re
volting against the Govern
ment. In the wake though of
Douwes Dekkers activities
Indonesian, particularly Jav
anese activities came into
being, and the basis was laid
of the Indonesian political
independency and freedom.
It is understandable that
the Indonesians hold Douwes
Dekker in high esteem. Under
the name Setiabudhi (setia
loyal; budhi wise) he is
considered one of the pillars
of Indonesian freedom. Several
monuments in Indonesia are
erected in his honour and his
portrait decorates many Indo
nesian post stamps.
In the next chapter the
awakening of so many Indones
ian, Dutch en Indo activities,
causes of the ultimate migra
tion of the Indo to many
countries over the whole world
Will be discussed. (to be continued)
GROOT WELDADIGHEIDSBAL
KOMT IN GROTEN GETALE OP
Op 29 Febr. 1964 wordt door gezamenlijke
verenigingen van Nederlandse immigranten een
feestavond georganiseerd, waarvan de opbrengst
ten goede komt aan een fonds voor steun aan
Ned. immigranten in nood.
Dit heeft plaats in de Breakfast Club, 3201
Los Feliz Blvd., L.A. Voorverkoop toegan-
sbewijzen bij Hans Keijser, 829 Earlham St.,
Pasadena, SY 3-3540.
