Spreading Love for History

Robby Sunata devises several measures to introduce historical sites to the youth in an attractive way. He believes that once love for history blossoms, desire to preserve the history could be engraved.

RHAMA PURNA JATI

Robby Sunata

The demise of Cinde Market in Palembang drove Robby Sunata (41) to spread love for history among the younger generation. He devises several measures to introduce historical sites to the youth in an attractive way. He believes that once love for history blossoms, desire to preserve the history could be engraved.

On Sunday (28/2/2021), around 30 historical junkies gathered on the porch of “rumah kapitan” (Captain’s House) in Palembang. Most of them were members of the younger generation who were still in school or university. With rapt attention, they listened to Tjik Harun, a prominent figure of Chinese descent who was telling a story of the first arrivals of Chinese people in Palembang, South Sumatra.

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Conservations became even more lively as they took place in the captain’s house, which had an architecture and characteristics suffused with Chinese cultural nuances. It was as if they had been transported to the past when the captain, the owner of the house, still lived there.

After the discussion ended, the attendees immediately visited the captain’s house and “rumah abu”, which was located next to the captain’s house. This experience gave new insights for them. Some of the visitors even continued their discussion to obtain further information.

It was Robby Sunata, a historian and founder of Friends of Cultural Heritage (SCB) Palembang, who organized this creative activity. Robby has introduced historical events by directly bringing the participants to historical sites since 2017.

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KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Robby Sunata

The activity, which is dubbed a heritage walk, was prompted by his concern over the condition of a site that was first named a cultural heritage in Palembang, namely Cinde Market. Cinde Market was demolished and replaced with a modern market This made him realize that even cultural heritage status could not save the historical building.

The strongest protection, Robby believes, comes from the locals themselves, namely from their desire to preserve local historical sites. The tragedy befalling Cinde Market led several history junkies to take actions Regardless, they did not have any platform at that time.

“A number of my colleagues and I decided to establish the SCB community,” said Robby.

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SCB serves a platform that bridges the youth with academics, cultural practitioners, historians and archeologists. After that, several light discussions on history were arranged in a number of places, starting from cafes, halls to historical sites.

A number of my colleagues and I decided to establish the SCB community.

The Jacobson van Den Berg Building, which is located in Sekanak, Palembang, was the first historical site they visited. The participants’ enthusiasm back then was really high. Numerous parents brought their children to take part in the event.

The participants were accompanied with a historian or cultural practitioner, who then told a story about the building which formerly served as a warehouse for export-import commodities during the colonial era. By doing this, it was expected that the youth could be “transported” back to the past, when the building was still in all its glory.

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KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Dozens of young people gathered at the Kapitan House in Palembang, South Sumatra, Sunday (28/2/2021). They listened to historical stories about the origins of Chinese ethnicity in Palembang.

Robby has also once invited dozens of millennials to visit Talang Tuwo historical site together with Budi Wiyana, head of South Sumatra Archaeological Center. This visit taught the participants that back in 684, Talang Tuwo had been called Sriksetra Garden and built by the founding father of the Sriwijaya kingdom, namely Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, for the welfare of his subjects.

While the site has now been transformed into a palm oil plantation, at least the youth now know that the location had once been a beautiful spot with a variety of plants.

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Having organized numerous events and activities, Robby hopes that the youth’s love for Palembang will never end. “When we hold a discussion in a historical site, the story of the site could be further embedded in our memory,” said Robby.

The oldest city

There are many old cities in Indonesia, but it is only Palembang which has been around since the era of Sriwijaya kingdom and still remains until now

Bearing the status as Indonesia’s oldest city, Palembang has an enormous wealth in terms of history and momentous buildings, each having its own story.

“Indeed, there are many old cities in Indonesia, but it is only Palembang which has been around since the era of Sriwijaya kingdom and still remains until now,” said Robby.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Head of the South Sumatra Culture and Tourism Office Aufa Syahrizal (third from left) observes the grave of Hyang Talang Tuwo in Alang-Alang Lebar Subdistrict, Palembang, Sunday (31/1/2021). The existence of the Talang Tuwo site is increasingly being threatened by massive development.

However, its abundance of wealth in history has been slowly eroded due to the greed or neglect of a handful of people. For instance, the location of the Sriwijaya kingdom’s Keraton (palace) remains unknown since its historical traces have been lost. Palembang’s traditional buildings, rumah limas (pyramid house), are also disappearing as parts of the buildings have been stripped down and sold by the owners.

If only the owners of pyramid houses knew about the history of the unique buildings, they might not have sold their pyramid houses, but rather maintained the buildings and increased their welfare by, among others, turning the pyramid houses into a tourist site.

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According to Robby, the awareness of Palembang’s local residents about the importance of safeguarding their wealth in history is still insufficient, despite the fact that through history people can understand the local identity and culture. When the love for history disappears, the love for the local identity disappears as well.

Through history, it was found out that Palembang has welcomed the arrival of other nations since the era of Sriwijaya kingdom. The city’s openness is evident in the lifestyle of local residents in Palembang who value diversity.

Robby hopes the activities that he has arranged to introduce historical events and sites will continue. It is the task of the younger generation to preserve local histories.

“Even when I have to stop one day, I’m sure the youth could continue my work,” said Robby.

Robby Sunata

Born: Palembang, Aug. 30, 1979

Istri: Laksmi Purnama Sari

Last education: Management Study, Padjadjaran University’s School of Economy.

This article was translated by Astria Z. Nabila.