After 17 Years: Bumi Manusia Edition
Finally, I accomplished my personal mission to reread these two books that I bought 17 years ago, in 2008. Of course, with much better reading comprehension.
My personal Bumi Manusia book, published in 2007 and bought in 2008
Rereading this book in much mature age (even the situation in this country was getting dark, very much the same with the situation portrayed within the book), make me questioning myself: why my late father told me to read this book when I was still a teenager and even a minor (I wasn't 17 yet)? I even didn't graduate from reading Bumi Manusia at that time, to think that this book was more into romance book, compared to Anak Semua Bangsa.
I couldn't help but to make glossaries (though it's not alphabetical) throughout my journey reading these book. Looking back at the glossaries I made, I recalled how much a hassle to read those books at that time. I had no Google because the access for Internet wasn't as easy as today, I need to open up dictionary (too many 'ancient' vocabularies and spellings and I couldn't even find them either in dictionary), I need to ask to my parents (which sometimes they didn't know either), too many historical events that I had no idea about, etc etc. To sum up: it was hard as hell, that's why I gave up and just read Twilight Saga (LOL).
My handwritten glossary for Bumi Manusia
There are some things that I want to highlight after reading Bumi Manusia.
First, I eventually got it why the book was titled as Bumi Manusia. The book was started with Minke, the main character of the story, who was amazed with the modern knowledge invented and introduced by humankind or human race from Europe (or Netherlands, to be precise, because at that time Indonesia was still under Netherlands colonialism). Since Minke was part of the privileges: he was a Raden Mas, son of a Regent of B Regency (Blora), therefore he got the perk of getting access to European standard education—which was only for the Dutch people, half native-half Dutch people (known as Indo), and native people from noble family—and became part of educated class. Even though Minke was a descendant of Javanese royalty (or ningrat), but he despised the nobles's feudal customs and cultures.
But then, his thoughts started to get change after meeting Nyai Ontosoroh, the concubine of Herman Melema, a Dutch man and the owner of Boerderij Buitenzorg (Agriculture Company). Nyai Ontosoroh practically shattered the general perception and taboos of European men's mistresses that had been planted within Minke's brain. She was a modern woman: she was a vocal and independent woman, she managed the company, and she was proficient in Dutch. From her and the throughout of his life living in Wonokromo, Minke learned many things and his mind started to get opened: he wanted to be a free, independent human on earth—to be free not only from the feudal customs and cultures, but also colonialism.
Second, at some point, I found Minke's character, as a privileged student, relatable. He wanted to learn and know so many things outside his current bubble, but at the same time he didn't learn and know much his surroundings—in current terms, I would like to tell him to touch some grass. Yes, he got modern European education, but at the same time, ironically, it made him kind of out of touch with his surroundings, to the common people who was less privileged than him. I think this was a common experience and mindset shared by many educated people, even today—I had been in that situation as well. Educated people have the tendency to live in their own 'theoretically ideal' bubble without getting in touch with the reality, therefore they tend to assume people without the same knowledge as them are less from them. Such an ironic situation, isn't it?
Third, I remember a certain phrase I failed to understand when I first time read it: a pair of ancient beast (in Indonesia: sepasang binatang purba). When I reread this phrase in my more mature age, I could understand it in a second: ah, Minke and Annelies (Nyai Ontosoroh's Indo daughter and Minke's lover) were in a heated situation to the point they lost their rationality and had sexual intercourse—mating, like a pair of beast. I couldn't help but to laugh when I recalled the confusion back then when I read that phrase. Of course, on the later sentences and paragraphs it was implied that they had impulsive sexual intercourse (because they talked about virginity and stuffs), but I still didn't get it why they became 'a pair of ancient beast'. What is the correlation between ancient beast and having sexual intercourse?—that's my pure, naive thought when I was still 16 years old (LOL).
Fourth, of course shout out to my favourite character in Bumi Manusia: Nyai Ontosoroh (or Sanikem; her maiden name before she became mistress). Sanikem was sold by his father when she was still 14 years old to Herman Mellema for 25 gulden and his ambition to be a cashier. Despite of being a mistress, Sanikem was facilitated with proper education (reading, writing, and counting) by Herman Mellema. Only proficient in Javanese, Sanikem also learned reading and writing in Dutch and Melayu. The education she got from her 'husband' made her turn into a fine lady with European attitude and aristocracy (priyayi) appearance. She also managed the Boerderij Buitenzorg (Agriculture Company) owned by his husband and became a (practically) single mother for her children: Robert and Annelies. She was the icon of feminist, a powerful feminist.
Knowing her weak position in the Dutch colonialism society (a native and mistress—what a combo), she had been sharpening her skills and independence; preparing herself for the worse situation later on: her 'husband' died and everything she had (company, wealth, and children) would be taken away and inherited to the Herman Mellema's legitimate family. And when the dreaded situation eventually came, she fought back ad challenged the hypocrisy and atrocity that had been done by the Mellema's legitimate family and colonial legal system. Though, sadly, in the end, she lost.
"Kita telah melawan, Nak, Nyo, sebaik-baiknya, sehormat-hormatnya (we have fought back, Son, the best we could, with honour)." she said after getting lost in the fight.
Fifth, Bumi Manusia had been adapted into a movie with the same title in 2019. Directed by Hanung Bramantyo and starred by Iqbaal Ramadhan (as Minke), Mawar de Jongh (as Annelies), and Sha Ine Febriyanti (as Nyai Ontosoroh). At that time, I skipped the movie because simply I didn't think Iqbaal was the suitable actor to play Minke—yes, both Iqbaal and Minke were around the same age, but I didn't think Iqbaal had the depth to play a complex character like Minke yet.
Movie poster of Bumi Manusia (2019)
After I reread Bumi Manusia, I decided to watch the movie since it was on Netflix and I just couldn't help but to not continue watching it. The movie was too cringey and felt like a FTV (kind of telemovie). The tone was too bright and yellow-greenish, failed to capture and portray the energy and solemnity of the story; it felt so shallow and cheap. I didn't expect much from Iqbaal's acting as Minke in the first place, but even Sha Ine Febriyanti's presence and talented acting skill as Nyai Ontosoroh couldn't save the movie either due to bad directing, props, vibes, and basically everything. Too bad, the movie left me a bad taste in my tongue.
Sixth (and probably the last point), I had some favourite quotes that I found interesting from the book. I haven't read the English version of the book, so I didn't know if my translation were on point or not (hehe).
Dalam hidupku, baru seumur jagung, sudah dapat kurasai: ilmu pengetahuan telah memberikan suatu restu yang tiada terhingga indahnya (In my life, that's still young and brief, I already feel it: science has given me a wonderful blessing with no bound). — Minke (Chapter 2).
Seorang terpelajar harus juga belajar berlaku adil sudah sejak dalam pikiran, apalagi perbuatan (The educated has to learn to be just in thought, moreover in deed). — Jean Marais (Chapter 3).
Hidup bisa memberikan segala pada barang siapa tahu dan pandai menerima (Life can give you everything to everyone who knows and has the will to receive). — Nyai Ontosoroh (Chapter 4).
Dia mengimpikan keindahan yang tak ada di dunia ini. Barangkali karena tadinya terlalu cepat dipaksa bertanggung jawab. Dambaannya adalah suatu kelonggaran tanpa tanggung jawab (She dreams of beauty that has no existence in this world. Perhaps because she has to bear the responsibilities too early. She desires for leniency without responsibilities). — Dr. Martinet (Chapter 14).
So, this was my experience when I reread Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Humankind). I hope to come back later with my experience after reading the other three books (I had read Anak Semua Bangsa and Jejak Langkah, and I'm about to start reading Rumah Kaca).