Noto Soeroto
Encyclopedia
Noto Soeroto a Javanese prince from the Jogjakarta noble house of Paku Alaman was a poet and writer of Dutch Indies literature
and journalist from the Dutch East Indies
(now: Indonesia
). He significantly contributed to the Dutch literary system
by exploring new literary themes and focusing on indigenous protagonists, at the same time drawing attention to indigenous culture and the indigenous plight.
.
He was not a radical Indonesian nationalist, but a supporter of the so called association politics, which sought collaboration between the Dutch and the native peoples of the Dutch East Indies. In his own literary magazine Oedaya (English: Sunrise), founded in 1923, he claims to be "under no influence of any political party, nor any private interest." The editors of his magazine, he said are "solely guided by a constructive attitude towards the relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia." "Calm, gradualism and naturalness, symbolized in a sunrise" were the guidelines for the magazine to contribute to the (sun)rise of Indonesia.
In 1918 he married his Dutch wife Jo Meyer with whom he had three Indo children. His first son Rawindro (1918), a daughter Dewatya (1922) and another son Harindro Dirodjo (1928). During WWII his wife and two oldest children would be part of the Dutch resistance fighting Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Soeroto returned to Java by himself in 1932, where he became the personal secretary of his old friend Duke Mangkunegara VII of a noble house of Solo
. During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in WWII Soeroto was assumed anti-Axis powers
and taken prisoner and tortured by the Kempeitai
. After the war and the death of Mangkunegara VII he became a journalist, but died in impoverished circumstances.
cited Soeroto's poetry on the occasion of the naming and foundation of Indonesia's national airline Garuda
in 1949. "Ik ben Garuda, Vishnoe's vogel, die zijn vleugels uitslaat hoog boven uw eilanden.", "I am Garuda, Vishnu
's bird, spreading my wings high above your islands."
The 1958 novel Schimmenspel by Dutch author Johan Fabricius
is loosely based on the life of Noto Soeroto.
Dutch Indies literature
Dutch Indies literature or Dutch East Indies literature is a section of Dutch literature encompassing Dutch language literature inspired by colonial and post-colonial Insulinde from the Dutch Golden Age to the present day. It includes Dutch, Indo-European and Indonesian authors...
and journalist from the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
(now: Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
). He significantly contributed to the Dutch literary system
Dutch literature
Dutch literature comprises all writings of literary merit written through the ages in the Dutch language, a language which currently has around 23 million native speakers...
by exploring new literary themes and focusing on indigenous protagonists, at the same time drawing attention to indigenous culture and the indigenous plight.
Life in a nutshell
Noto Soeroto came to the Netherlands to study Law in Leiden in 1910. During his stay in the Netherlands his many publications included contributions in important literary reviews such as the avant garde Het Getij, De Gemeenschap, Links Richten and Forum. His poems were published in many volumes and translated into many languages. They had exotic titles such as Melati-knoppen, Melati buds, De geur van moeders haarwrong, the odor/smell of mothers hair knot or Lotos of morgendauw, Lotos or morning dew. He wrote a famous brochure on Kartini, the Javanese princess and Indonesian national heroine, whose popular letters were published in 1912 and also contributed to Dutch Indies literatureDutch Indies literature
Dutch Indies literature or Dutch East Indies literature is a section of Dutch literature encompassing Dutch language literature inspired by colonial and post-colonial Insulinde from the Dutch Golden Age to the present day. It includes Dutch, Indo-European and Indonesian authors...
.
He was not a radical Indonesian nationalist, but a supporter of the so called association politics, which sought collaboration between the Dutch and the native peoples of the Dutch East Indies. In his own literary magazine Oedaya (English: Sunrise), founded in 1923, he claims to be "under no influence of any political party, nor any private interest." The editors of his magazine, he said are "solely guided by a constructive attitude towards the relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia." "Calm, gradualism and naturalness, symbolized in a sunrise" were the guidelines for the magazine to contribute to the (sun)rise of Indonesia.
In 1918 he married his Dutch wife Jo Meyer with whom he had three Indo children. His first son Rawindro (1918), a daughter Dewatya (1922) and another son Harindro Dirodjo (1928). During WWII his wife and two oldest children would be part of the Dutch resistance fighting Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Soeroto returned to Java by himself in 1932, where he became the personal secretary of his old friend Duke Mangkunegara VII of a noble house of Solo
Solo
-Games:* Dance Dance Revolution Solo, a sub-series of Dance Dance Revolution by Konami-Literature:* Solo , a comic book series* Solo , a Swedish magazine* Solo , a comic book character...
. During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies in WWII Soeroto was assumed anti-Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
and taken prisoner and tortured by the Kempeitai
Kempeitai
The was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army from 1881 to 1945. It was not an English-style military police, but a French-style gendarmerie...
. After the war and the death of Mangkunegara VII he became a journalist, but died in impoverished circumstances.
Poetry
His poetry book Wayang Songs was translated into French and German. Here he also managed to describe what he felt was his destiny."This is my earthly life, full of trouble and struggle, and many are my enemies, laughing at me. Their honing hit target faster than feathered arrows, their words sharper than the Kris. My fight isnt over yet.[...]Lord, let me be a Wayang in your hands. Then after one hundred years or one thousand years Thy hand shall move me again. Then when my time will dawn again in your eternity, Thou shalt lift me up and again I will speak and fight. And then my enemies will be silenced and the demon will crash down. Lord, let me be a Wayang in your hands."
Legacy
Indonesian President SukarnoSukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
cited Soeroto's poetry on the occasion of the naming and foundation of Indonesia's national airline Garuda
Garuda Indonesia
PT Garuda Indonesia Tbk , publicly known as Garuda Indonesia, is the flag carrier of Indonesia. It is named after the mystical giant bird Garuda of Hinduism and Buddhist mythology. It is headquartered at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia...
in 1949. "Ik ben Garuda, Vishnoe's vogel, die zijn vleugels uitslaat hoog boven uw eilanden.", "I am Garuda, Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
's bird, spreading my wings high above your islands."
The 1958 novel Schimmenspel by Dutch author Johan Fabricius
Johan Fabricius
Johan Fabricius was a Dutch writer, journalist and adventurer.Fabricius was born in Bandung, Java. He wrote approximately 60 books, among them many books for children. He is well known for writing the historical children's book "De scheepsjongens van Bontekoe" , which was reprinted 28 times as of...
is loosely based on the life of Noto Soeroto.
Publications
- Melatiknoppen (1915) Melati buds
- De geur van moeders haarwrong (1916) The smell of mothers hair knot
- Fluisteringen van den avondwind (1917) Whispers of the evening breeze
- Bloeme-ketenen (1918) Flower chains
- Lotos en morgendauw (1920) Lotos and morning dew
- Kleurschakeeringen (1925) Shades of color
- Nieuwe fluisteringen van den avondwind (1925) New whispers of the evening breeze
- Wayang-liederen (1931) Wayang Songs
- Goden, mensen dieren (1956) Gods, men, animals