'Paris Van Java' brings back to life a time gone by<\/p>\n
Lisa Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
It's often said that God smiled when creating the perfect beauty
\nof the land of Pasundan, now known as West Java.<\/p>\n
Its natural wonders have always drawn people to the area,
\nincluding those from a small country a world away.<\/p>\n
Like all of those who visit Bandung, the Dutch colonists faced
\nthe \"curse\" that those who have visited the city will be punished
\nto continually yearn for their next visit.<\/p>\n
The Dutch returned to their windswept country on the North Sea
\nwith fond memories of the cool climes and wide boulevards of
\n\"Parijs van Java\" (the Paris of Java), named in honor of Europe's
\nmost beautiful city.<\/p>\n
In his latest novel, originally serialized in Koran Tempo
\ndaily, author Remy Sylado tells the story of the Dutch in Bandung
\nin the 1920s, still enjoying the pleasures of colonialism but
\nwith the ominous shadows of the nationalist movement starting to
\nform.<\/p>\n
It's a formidably researched work, with copious references to
\nold books, archival sources and manuscripts, a characteristic of
\nthe acclaimed author. But Sylado immediately surprises the reader
\nby putting himself in the place of the Dutch in gazing at their
\nlittle corner of paradise.<\/p>\n
He succeeds in avoiding a one-dimensional, slanted view of the
\nDutch as oppressive, greedy colonialists, instead portraying them
\nas people in all their diverse characteristics.<\/p>\n
His main protagonists are two young Dutch lovers, Gertruida
\n\"Gerry\" van Veen and Rob Verschoor, who come to Bandung to chase
\ntheir dreams in a new land and escape the young woman's
\ndomineering stepfather.<\/p>\n
They fall in love with the new land and the people,
\nbefriending a generous and kind nationalist student Abdoelkarim
\nbin Abdoelkadir, and with Rob supporting them by working as a
\npainter.<\/p>\n
But the two are lured into a web of deceit spun by an
\nambitious Dutch landlord Van Der Wijk and his evil protegee
\nRumondt, who wish to turn the city into a center for
\nprostitution.<\/p>\n
The story swirls around the battle of wits and tricks between
\nthe two men and those opposed to their plan, with bribery,
\nviolence and murder plots thrown in to spice matters up.<\/p>\n
Remy points up how the corruption of yesteryear is little
\ndifferent from the sorry lack of ethics found in this country
\ntoday, but he is also unafraid to show the amorality of many
\nDutch.<\/p>\n
He depicts the schism within the Dutch community about the
\nfuture of Indonesia, between those in favor of granting
\nindependence to the locals and others determined to exploit the
\ncountry and its people.<\/p>\n
As with his previous novel Ca-bau-kan, Remy takes readers on a
\ntrip back in time, with Bandung landmarks providing the backdrop
\nfor all the drama. He uses many Dutch expressions throughout,
\nwhich will be interesting to those who speak the language well
\nbut proves a bit of a nuisance for others.<\/p>\n
Again, as with Ca-bau-kan, Remy ends the novel with the
\ncomeuppance for the evil-doers. His message is that karma
\nultimately catches up with the wicked, and is delivered by those
\nwho have suffered at their hands.<\/p>\n
There are some minor flaws in the novel, but they are not
\nenough to make you stop reading this entertaining work. When you
\ndo finally reach the end, it will be time to think about heading
\nback on another trip to beautiful Bandung.<\/p>\n
Parijs van Java -- Darah, Keringat, Airmata (Paris of Java --
\nBlood, Sweat and Tears) Remy Sylado, Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia,
\nJakarta, 2003 595 pp<\/p>",
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