A Book Released to Commemorate "Puputan Badung" Centennial

September this year marks the milestone that it is one hundred years ago of the war-end battle between the people of Badung (Denpasar) and the Dutch colonial army. This battle is known as "Puputan Badung". "Puputan" literally means: "the End" and in this case it means: "a military suicide or sacrifice charge"
The celebration of the centennial war-end was very special, marked by various activities including sport competition, seminar, gamelan music contest, cultural parade, and dance and drama of the war reenactment. The last one was being held on Jalan Veteran, Denpasar, right on the spot where exactly 100 years ago, the war end (puputan) took place, 20 September 1906.
The pre-text of the war is the wrecking of a Chinese ship carrying the Dutch flag on the beach of Sanur, 27 May 1904. The colonial Dutch government accused the people of Sanur that they confiscated goods of the ship and therefore must pay a fine.
The King of Badung, Tjokorda Ngurah Made Agung, who himself was a great literary writer, refused to pay the fine, and stood up against the Dutch oppressor. After the long fail of diplomatic attempts, the Dutch used this as a good reason to launch a military attack in order to conquer the last stance of Balinese kings of South Bali. More than a thousand people were killed during the war - end battle.
The celebration of Puputan Badung started in 1973, but the 100 years anniversary was so special. One milestone of this centennial celebration is the publication of a book entitled Seabad Puputan Badung: Perspektif Belanda dan Bali (A Century of Puputan Badung: Perspectives of Dutch and Bali), jointly edited by scholars from three countries which are Henk Schulte Nordholt (Dutch), Helen Creese (Australia), and Darma Putra (Indonesia, Bali). The book launching was held on Tuesday (19/9) and followed by discussion on "puputan" at the Faculty of Letters, Udayana University.
The book is special because it provides texts from both Bali and Holland. The Dutch sources include the military account of Dutch East Indies Army and the personal account of an embedded journalist, named H.M.van Weede. He joined the Dutch army and took photos. The Dutch sources were collected and selected by Prof Henk Schulte and he got them translated into Indonesian language.
Balinese sources were selected and edited by Prof Helen Creese. It includes a diary of a Balinese officer acting as translator and mediator for the Dutch, I Gusti Putu Djelantik from North Bali. There is also an article based on accounts of those involved in the war and oral narratives written by a descendant of the Denpasar Royal Palace, AA Sg Putri Kapandhyan.
Interestingly, Putri Kapandyan’s article focuses on an experience of a pregnant-woman who joined the war but escaped from death. She was saved by her family and had a baby. One of her grandchildren is the husband of the writer, Putri Kapandyan. "This is a very touching and interesting story of the Puputan. In history generally, woman roles are often overlooked," said Darma Putra.
The book also contains photos and a map of the palace before it was burned down during the war. Most of the photos used in the book are taken by van Weede and collected by the KITLV – Institute in Leiden - Holland. The aims of the book Seabad Puputan Badung is to provide the public with more historical sources, which are written by those, close to the war. "People in Bali know "Puputan", but little can be read about it," said Darma Putra. "We hope this book can be one of important references of the war that happened 100 years ago."
"No interpretation is provided in the book, so it is the task of readers to make sense on their mind on the Puputan," added Darma Putra, lecturer of Indonesian Department, Faculty of Letters, Udayana University, Bali.
The editor handed over a book to the descendant of the King of Badung, Ida Tjokorda Ngurah Jambe Pemecutan at his palace, last week. He welcomes the book as to provide good and rich sources for young generations, who want to know more about "Puputan". The book, titled "Seabad Puputan Badung" is available at main book stores in Denpasar and Kuta. (BTN/*)