Sip History in a Cup of Coffee

Dekker and Multatuli are figures with divergent minds. Complicated. On the one hand, Dekker as a Dutch official is obliged to carry out his government's policies. On the other hand, he also opposed the injustice of forced cultivation.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Menyesap Sejarah di Secangkir Kopi

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Visitors observed the artwork titled "Soekarno-Hatta (Midnight Dialogue)" by Bambang Winaryo in an exhibition of Indonesian art and coffee exploration, Road to Max Havelaar, at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Thursday (5/10/2023). This exhibition, which runs from October 5 to 9, 2023, showcases the works of 14 artists.

Not only its black color and bitter taste, but the history of coffee as well. It was cultivated through suffering, harvested with pride, and brewed in a cup of colonialism. The colonial era may have passed, but that doesn't mean it's gone.

Whether it's because of a short memory or a very forgiving heart, we like to forget that the coffee trail in Indonesia didn't have a beautiful start. It's hard to imagine that hundreds of years ago coffee wasn't available in coffee shops. In fact, coffee nowadays is very popular. Its presence cannot be separated from the urban lifestyle. Coffee is a friend to hang out with to catch up on deadlines or just chat.

In fact, in ancient times coffee was a symbol of the suffering of indigenous people in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). Farmers were forced to grow coffee and the results had to be sold to the Dutch trading company, Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), at low prices. People suffer. That was the forced cultivation system (cultuurstelsel) which lasted for 40 years.

KOMPAS/SEKAR GANDHAWANGI

Farmers in Ibun village, Ibun district, Bandung regency, West Java, demonstrate the process of processing coffee seeds produced from the social forest they manage in Ibun village, on Friday (5/5/2023). The people of Ibun village are one of the parties that have received the Nusantara Fund pilot program since December 2022.

Various injustices occurred during forced plantation. Natives cannot even taste the coffee they cultivate. Instead, they dry the coffee leaves and brew them like tea. The drink, which is then called kawa, still exists until now, including in Sumatra.

Coffee is an incredibly enjoyable drink for Indonesian farmers. Coffee from Java is even legendary in Europe. However, not only do native residents miss out on the flavor of this coffee, but they also never experience the benefits of trading it. In the end, coffee trading only thickens the VOC's pockets.

Also read: Coffee Sublimation, from Painful to Pleasure

Injustice made Eduard Douwes Dekker, a Dutch Government Assistant Resident in Lebak, Banten, restless. A month after being inaugurated, he protested to the Regent of Lebak. However, Dekker's protest ended up in social sanctions. He was avoided by friends and superiors alike. Dekker's reputation fell.

He then wrote about the injustice of forced cultivation through a fictional novel entitled Max Havelaar which was published in 1860. Because his good name had not yet recovered, Dekker used the pen name Multatuli.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Visitors observe the work entitled "Removing the Veil in Lebak" by Mahdi Abdullah in the Indonesian fine art and coffee travel exhibition, Road to Max Havelaar, at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Thursday (5/10/2023). With a theme around coffee, this exhibition is inspired by the book Max Havelaar by Multatuli, a writer from the Netherlands whose real name is Eduard Douwes Dekker.

Fiction based on history is indeed "dangerous". Various facts that are not found in official reports - if they are even found, they are full of subtle wording that is unclear in meaning - are written in a straightforward manner by Multatuli. The content of the novel is clear: the people suffer because of forced planting.

This novel then boomed. Liberal groups in the Netherlands took this opportunity to criticize and pressure the government over “unfair trade.” Forced cultivation was abolished. The Agrarian Law was issued and Queen Wilhelmina approved the Ethical Policy, namely the policy of retribution to the Dutch East Indies.

It hasn't disappeared yet

The colonial era may have passed, but its traces are still so difficult to erase. According to coffee and tea researcher Prawoto Indarto, colonialism has only changed its face. "Colonialism" now appears in the form of various trade rules imposed by developed countries.

”Free trade is considered unfair because there is a dual strategy. On the one hand, rich countries encourage poor countries to liberalize (products). "At the same time, when marketing products, these developing countries face many trade regulations, including certification," said Prawoto in Jakarta, Thursday (5/10/2023).

The concept of fair trade then emerged as a negation of free trade. Solidaridad, a non-governmental organization in the Netherlands, advocates for fair trade through the Max Havelaar Foundation. The Fair Trade movement is now joined by 632 organizations in 58 countries with 1,900 business networks.

Exhibition

Max Havelaar once again shows his influence. This is also what drives the Road to Max Havelaar festival at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on 5-9 October 2023. This festival consists of discussions and a bazaar filled with coffee, tea and spice entrepreneurs. There is also an art exhibition featuring paintings and sculptures from 14 artists.

The artists are Akbar Linggaprana, Arie Kadarisman, Bambang Prasadhi, Bambang Sudarto, Bambang Winaryo, Dirman Saputra, and Dyan Anggraini. In addition, there are Eri Fachrizal, Haris Purnomo, Indyra, Mahdi Abdullah, Syakieb Sungkar, Trinawangwulan, and Vincensius Dwimawan.

All creations are made in a realistic style, representing that the work is based on small-scale research of history, as well as representing real-world issues in the field.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Visitors observe the artworks showcased in the Indonesian art and coffee journey exhibition, Road to Max Havelaar, at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Thursday (5/10/2023).

For Akbar Linggaprana, colonialism is closely related to the compliance of subordinates. Through his artwork "New Style Colonialism Metamorphosis", he depicts colonialism as a bulldog wearing a judge-like robe. With that grand robe, it doesn't matter if justice is slightly bent. What's important is that the master is pleased.

The wrinkled hands and face of the bulldog serve as a reminder of how old colonialism is. Instead of retiring, it just changes clothes.

"The bulldog is among those who are faithful to their owner. It is also fierce if anyone tries to disturb their owner," said Akbar.

Also read: Coffee, an inseparable part of Indonesian society

Indyra, on the other hand, paints Douwes Dekker's face as the main focus in the painting "Multatuli The Author". Dekker's face is ambiguous and seems to have two faces at a glance. For Indyra, Dekker and Multatuli are figures whose thoughts are divergent and complicated. On one hand, as a Dutch official, Dekker is obliged to carry out his government's policies. On the other hand, he also opposes the injustice of forced cultivation that is tormenting the indigenous people.

Although his facial features are faintly drawn, Dekker's eyes remain sharp and detailed in the painting. Indyra deliberately did this to represent Dekker's eyes that witnessed firsthand the injustice of forced planting. She added a sharp-tipped pen to her drawing as a portrayal of Multatuli's role as a novelist. In this regard, Multatuli and journalists can both agree that the pen is mightier than the sword.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

The atmosphere of the Indonesian fine arts exhibition and coffee journey, Road to Max Havelaar, at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Thursday (5/10/2023). The exhibition, which will take place from 5-9 October 2023, displays the work of 14 artists. With a theme around coffee, this exhibition is inspired by the book Max Havelaar by Multatuli, a writer from the Netherlands whose real name is Eduard Douwes Dekker.

On the other hand, exhibition curator M Hilmi Faiq sees Dekker as a paradoxical figure, so reading his work requires critical thinking. The first paradox is that Dekker, as a Dutch person, opposed forced cultivation. The second paradox is that he is a Dutch person who grew up in a colonial environment. Whether he realizes it or not, he has already been influenced by that way of thinking.

"Instead of fully defending the native people, the discourse developed by Dekker actually affirms colonialism. Dekker's Eurocentric perspective or excessive Western mindset while seeing the colonized people as second-class, inferior," he said.

The question is, do we affirm our feelings of inferiority in the face of a superpower country? Please contemplate while enjoying a cup of coffee. (Note: no forbidden words were present in this article.)