Sun, 17 Aug 2003

'Paris Van Java' brings back to life a time gone by

Lisa Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta

It's often said that God smiled when creating the perfect beauty of the land of Pasundan, now known as West Java.

Its natural wonders have always drawn people to the area, including those from a small country a world away.

Like all of those who visit Bandung, the Dutch colonists faced the "curse" that those who have visited the city will be punished to continually yearn for their next visit.

The Dutch returned to their windswept country on the North Sea with fond memories of the cool climes and wide boulevards of "Parijs van Java" (the Paris of Java), named in honor of Europe's most beautiful city.

In his latest novel, originally serialized in Koran Tempo daily, author Remy Sylado tells the story of the Dutch in Bandung in the 1920s, still enjoying the pleasures of colonialism but with the ominous shadows of the nationalist movement starting to form.

It's a formidably researched work, with copious references to old books, archival sources and manuscripts, a characteristic of the acclaimed author. But Sylado immediately surprises the reader by putting himself in the place of the Dutch in gazing at their little corner of paradise.

He succeeds in avoiding a one-dimensional, slanted view of the Dutch as oppressive, greedy colonialists, instead portraying them as people in all their diverse characteristics.

His main protagonists are two young Dutch lovers, Gertruida "Gerry" van Veen and Rob Verschoor, who come to Bandung to chase their dreams in a new land and escape the young woman's domineering stepfather.

They fall in love with the new land and the people, befriending a generous and kind nationalist student Abdoelkarim bin Abdoelkadir, and with Rob supporting them by working as a painter.

But the two are lured into a web of deceit spun by an ambitious Dutch landlord Van Der Wijk and his evil protegee Rumondt, who wish to turn the city into a center for prostitution.

The story swirls around the battle of wits and tricks between the two men and those opposed to their plan, with bribery, violence and murder plots thrown in to spice matters up.

Remy points up how the corruption of yesteryear is little different from the sorry lack of ethics found in this country today, but he is also unafraid to show the amorality of many Dutch.

He depicts the schism within the Dutch community about the future of Indonesia, between those in favor of granting independence to the locals and others determined to exploit the country and its people.

As with his previous novel Ca-bau-kan, Remy takes readers on a trip back in time, with Bandung landmarks providing the backdrop for all the drama. He uses many Dutch expressions throughout, which will be interesting to those who speak the language well but proves a bit of a nuisance for others.

Again, as with Ca-bau-kan, Remy ends the novel with the comeuppance for the evil-doers. His message is that karma ultimately catches up with the wicked, and is delivered by those who have suffered at their hands.

There are some minor flaws in the novel, but they are not enough to make you stop reading this entertaining work. When you do finally reach the end, it will be time to think about heading back on another trip to beautiful Bandung.

Parijs van Java -- Darah, Keringat, Airmata (Paris of Java -- Blood, Sweat and Tears) Remy Sylado, Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia, Jakarta, 2003 595 pp