Youngsters in Palembang Search for Their Roots

The enthusiasm of “budak mudo” (youngsters) in Palembang for their city’s history and culture drives them to explore historical places and journey through social media.

KOMPAS/RHAMA PURNA JATI

Dozens of youngsters in front of the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Palembang Museum, Saturday (27/3/2021). They just had a discussion related to the preservation of cultural heritage in Palembang. The role of young people is needed to preserve cultural heritage.

On Saturday (27/3/2021), about 20 young people sat on the floor in a semicircle at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin (SMB) II Museum, Palembang. They focused on listening to a presentation by Evy Apriyani, an architect and observer of historical buildings in the city of Palembang. On the projector screen, many photos of old buildings were highlighted.

One by one questions were raised. One participant asked, "How many cultural heritages are there in Palembang?"

Evy replied that currently there was only one building that had been declared a cultural heritage by the Palembang city administration, namely Cinde Market, which was completed in 1958 and designed by architect Abikusno Tjokroseojoso.

Also read: Guardian of Old Manuscripts of Palembang

Actually, there are many historical buildings in Palembang City. However, said Evy, the municipal administration has not designated it as a cultural heritage. Even if there are those with cultural heritage status, they still refer to Law No. 5/1992 concerning Cultural Heritage Objects, which have not been updated through Law No 11/2010.

It is important for us to understand and preserve historical remains for the sake of learning the present and the future.

The condition of Cinde Market is saddening. Now there are only the four “fungus pillars” left on the front facade, in line with the city administration’s plan to build a modern market at that location.

The young people who began to look away from the history of their city became shocked. The discussions made them more aware of the importance of knowing traces of the past.

"It is important for us to understand and preserve historical remains for the sake of learning the present and the future," said Kholid Zaim (24), a discussion participant, who is part of the Community of Friends of Cultural Heritage.

Kompas

Buying and selling activities at Cinde Market, Palembang, Saturday (13/8). This market has a mushroom pole concept that adopts an architectural idea from Herman Thomas Karsten.

Robby Sunata (42), the founder of the community, said that historical discussions on historical sites or buildings have the potential to attract young people. In addition to discussions, they also visited a number of historical places through an activity called a heritage walk.

Another location visited was the Talang Tuwo site, where the Talang Tuwo inscription was found. The inscription mentions Taman Sriksetra, a beautiful garden created by the founder of Kedatuan Sriwijaya, Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa in the Saka Year 606 or the year 684.

The Sahabat Cagar Budaya community also visited Rumah Kapitan, a 377 year old building that was once inhabited by Tjoa Ham Lim. The Dutch East Indies government appointed Tjoa Ham Lim to become Kapitan of Palembang in 1871. There, community members discussed the arrival of the Chinese to Palembang.

Also read: Spreading Love for History

This activity, which has taken place since 2017, is carried out at least once a month. The results of the meeting were also uploaded on social media.

For Kholid, this activity made him know and love his city more. "A building without a narrative is meaningless, a narrative without a building is also incomplete. It is important to protect the site of a city so that its history is not lost,” he said.

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.

Hidayatul Fikri (35) also introduced the history of Palembang City through social media, such as YouTube and Facebook. Through the Mang Dayat account, he introduced the city of Palembang and its history.

Fikri, for example, tells the history of Jalan Merdeka, the first highway that was built in the Dutch colonial era by filling up the Kapuran River. This road connects the government office with the Talang Semut area, an elite area in Palembang. The area was designed by a Dutch architect, Herman Thomas Karsten, in 1929.

So that the audience feels closer.

It was named Jalan Merdeka because at the Ledeng Office (now the office of the Mayor of Palembang), national hero Adnan Kapau Gani read the text of the proclamation (of national independence) for the first time in Palembang.

The video content is packaged with a narrative in Palembang language. "So that the audience feels closer," said Fikri, who started his channel in early 2020.

Now, the Mang Dayat account has 41,200 subscribers. The audience is from a number of regions, to foreign countries such as Malaysia.

Fikri is determined to continue to be creative in introducing the history of Palembang City to millennials so they don\'t forget its history.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Ampera Bridge over the Musi River, Palembang, illuminated by light, Saturday (29/11/2014) night. The bridge is an icon of the capital city of South Sumatra.

Virtual migration

Sociologist from the University of South Sumatra, Saudi Berlian, assessed that the mushrooming of communities and various historical and cultural content of Palembang was a breath of fresh air. "There is a creative migration, switching to virtual," he said.

According to a historian from Sriwijaya University, Dedi Irwanto Muhammad Santun, the trends of youngsters being attracted to their cultural roots and their city became the first milestone in preserving the history of Palembang, which is now 1,338 years old, according to the Kedukan Bukit inscription dating from the year of 604 Saka.

There is a creative migration, switching to virtual

As the capital city of Kedatuan Sriwijaya, a large kingdom in Southeast Asia, Palembang grew into a metropolitan city. Although the Srivijaya Empire collapsed in the 13th century due to the attack of the Chola Kingdom from South India, commercial activities continued to live.

Also read: Palembang’s Pempek Staying Afloat Persistently

Palembang grew again in the 16th century when a group of aristocrats who were expelled from the Demak Sultanate (in Central Java) led by Pangeran Sedo Ing Lautan settled in Old Palembang, now the 1 Ilir area. At that time, Palembang was under the leadership of Dipati Karang Widara, a descendant of Demang Lebar Daun, as written in the kesultananpalembang.id.

They established the Palembang Kingdom, which was Islamic in style and built the Kuto Gawang Palace. The kingdom of Palembang developed into the Sultanate of Palembang Darusalam, which was first led by Khalifatul Mukminin Sayyidul Imam in 1659. The sultanate was about two centuries old, until demolished by the Dutch colonial in 1823.

The history of Palembang, said Dedi, is like an untouched jungle. Now, the younger generation is trying to find its roots.

This article was translated by Kurniawan Siswoko.