Statues in the city

Statues in the city

On Monday, April 1, 1996, you did a noble service to your readers, particularly to the expatriates, by writing about the statue at Pancoran, Tebet. I have been asking many of my Indonesian friends about various majestic and beautiful statues in this equally beautiful city (including the one at Pancoran) and what they represent, but I was surprised (and somewhat disappointed) to find that most of them do not know the history behind these statues. Statues have a special place in the history of every country and its people. I am sure that there are hundreds of expatriates like me who have a keen desire to know about the history of various statues in this city and this country.

Till I read the report, I did not know the correct name of the statue at Pancoran and was dismayed when it was referred to in some nonsensical derogatory terms. I wrongly assumed that the statue at Pancoran depicted Hanuman, one of the wily characters from the epic Ramayana and am happy to know its correct name Dirgantara and that it depicts Gatotkaca from another epic Mahabharata. It was fascinating to read the historical background regarding how it was built.

I do not know what the beautiful statue at the Sudirman Circle represents and feel very sad when it is also referred to in similar derogatory terms. What does the statue in front of the Hotel Indonesia represent and what is the history behind it? What is the history behind Tugu Tani in front of the Aryaduta hotel?

I think your paper should run a series of articles on all the statues in this city so that people will refer to them by the correct names and with all the respect they deserve.

Mr. Michael Chandra who took the initiative and contributed handsomely to the scrubbing and polishing of the Dirgantara statue deserves a special mention.

K.B. KALE

Jakarta