03 December 2013
Pekanbaru, (Antarariau.com) - The 80 years old
historical relics of Riau Province that made before national
independence finally got back home after hidden away accros the sea in
Netherland.
Prof. Bob F. Deys, a 78 years old Dutchman, who granted an old charter and black and white film to Soeman HS Library of Riau Province here in Pekanbaru on Tuesday (3/12). He was the son of F.H Deys, former Asistant Resident (Kontroleur Kota) for Sumatera Region when Dutch Kingdom occupied Dutch East Indies in 1930's, or 15 years before Indonesia proclaimed its independence.
"It does not belong to me, does not belong to the museum in Holland, its belong to Indonesia and to Riau," Bob said to Antara.
Bob flew from Netherland with his wife Willy Deys Van Gurk, to personally delivered the relics to Chairul Rizky, the Head of Soeman HS Library of Riau. Bob explainded that the relics were used to be the part of their family history for long time.
He accidentently found them in the stacks of Deys's family files about six months a go.
The historical charter made in 1938, written using hand writing and mentioned that "Ninik Mamak" or so called the traditional leaders of "Kenegerian Bangkinang" in Kampar District, were thankful to F.H Deys for helping local rice peasants. Bob said that his father on that day had assignments to travel around Sumatera for handling education, hospitals, roads and bridges in the region.
The job brought Bob's father to meet farmers in the place called Bandara Uway, Bangkinang, and they complained about lack of water in the paddy fields. With the help of his handful engineer, Deys Sr. set up big project for irrigation system.
"The charter become a proof that the presence of the Dutch on that day also did bring good things to local people," Bob said.
While in Riau, Bob and his wife also spent time to see the irrigation system and walked thru the paddy fields. The journey to get there he said was pretty rough on the road which he called it as "goyang" (bumpy) ride.
"Me and my wife already got there to that place, the paddy fields and irrigation are still there, but the name of the place had changed to Muara Uway," he said.
Bob recalled his father passion of filming during the assignments had produced many collections of black and white documenters about the life and cultures in Sumatera.
The copy of black and white movie about irrigaiton in Kampar, and the grand opening of Simpang Tiga's Airstip in Pekanbaru were some of the collection that now have been handed over to Riau's Library.
"The airstip on that day was only a simple building made of woods, and so different with the new airport now which is very big," he said.
Chairul Rizky, head of Soeman HS Riau's Library expressed his gratitude for the Deys's family grant. He said the historical charter and film would be very useful for the society, especially for youngster, to know the piece of history of Riau.
"The documentation about Pekanbaru, especially about Kampar, are so hard to find. Even Angkasa Pura who now managing Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru does not have documentation about early days of that place," Rizky said.(antara)
Prof. Bob F. Deys, a 78 years old Dutchman, who granted an old charter and black and white film to Soeman HS Library of Riau Province here in Pekanbaru on Tuesday (3/12). He was the son of F.H Deys, former Asistant Resident (Kontroleur Kota) for Sumatera Region when Dutch Kingdom occupied Dutch East Indies in 1930's, or 15 years before Indonesia proclaimed its independence.
"It does not belong to me, does not belong to the museum in Holland, its belong to Indonesia and to Riau," Bob said to Antara.
Bob flew from Netherland with his wife Willy Deys Van Gurk, to personally delivered the relics to Chairul Rizky, the Head of Soeman HS Library of Riau. Bob explainded that the relics were used to be the part of their family history for long time.
He accidentently found them in the stacks of Deys's family files about six months a go.
The historical charter made in 1938, written using hand writing and mentioned that "Ninik Mamak" or so called the traditional leaders of "Kenegerian Bangkinang" in Kampar District, were thankful to F.H Deys for helping local rice peasants. Bob said that his father on that day had assignments to travel around Sumatera for handling education, hospitals, roads and bridges in the region.
The job brought Bob's father to meet farmers in the place called Bandara Uway, Bangkinang, and they complained about lack of water in the paddy fields. With the help of his handful engineer, Deys Sr. set up big project for irrigation system.
"The charter become a proof that the presence of the Dutch on that day also did bring good things to local people," Bob said.
While in Riau, Bob and his wife also spent time to see the irrigation system and walked thru the paddy fields. The journey to get there he said was pretty rough on the road which he called it as "goyang" (bumpy) ride.
"Me and my wife already got there to that place, the paddy fields and irrigation are still there, but the name of the place had changed to Muara Uway," he said.
Bob recalled his father passion of filming during the assignments had produced many collections of black and white documenters about the life and cultures in Sumatera.
The copy of black and white movie about irrigaiton in Kampar, and the grand opening of Simpang Tiga's Airstip in Pekanbaru were some of the collection that now have been handed over to Riau's Library.
"The airstip on that day was only a simple building made of woods, and so different with the new airport now which is very big," he said.
Chairul Rizky, head of Soeman HS Riau's Library expressed his gratitude for the Deys's family grant. He said the historical charter and film would be very useful for the society, especially for youngster, to know the piece of history of Riau.
"The documentation about Pekanbaru, especially about Kampar, are so hard to find. Even Angkasa Pura who now managing Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport in Pekanbaru does not have documentation about early days of that place," Rizky said.(antara)
