What do you know?
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009There were times I wondered how it was that remarkably many Eurasians were actually Italian, and a Javanese princess as mother had. Why Eurasians themselves were always fun, but with the same intensity could be parted from each other. Or why my grandmother never Indonesian formal family photos to be seen. Answers to those questions I have now. But recently I have a new question.
The beauty of Indian culture, I think I grew up with stories about an adventurous youth. Every birthday my grandfather again let everyone experience all events he had witnessed in India. I can not possibly reproduce because, apart from the fact that I am over twenty years ago, I, I looked at such moments especially with great pride to him. He was so enjoying telling, as tasty and as audacity to describe his own experiences laugh that he has won for everyone. That was my grandfather and grandfather had no such strange stories as he. He knew how Sat
As a grandchild I'm not unique. More and more peers get their grandparents for the first time - not always fun - stories told by their parents never heard. And that is something beautiful about our culture: Indo each has its own story to tell, other parents, other experiences during the Japanese occupation, Bersiap and repatriation. That makes every Indo unique. Unlike other Eurasians. Only if every Indo unique, are not we all the same?
Oh, now I totally forgot my question I have to say. That bubbled up when I got an email from a young Indo, let's call him Bob. Bob asked me to respond to his essay on history. I will confess, I doubted. Although I am quite in the Indian history have deepened, I know that I did not know everything. Anyway. I decided to go out, because Bob's problem was because one error after another. Bob wrote "You were allowed only to the Netherlands if you could prove that you are approved for a Dutch father." Warga Negara's (repentis) came to the Netherlands between 1957-1964. "And" Around 350,000 went to the Netherlands to Eurasians and some 1-4000000 have left behind. " Any Indo its history, knows that these statements are almost true.
So I wrote Bob. That I liked that he was so busy with his background, but that things were that straightforward. I gave Bob a few examples. So you could have an ancestor from the Netherlands have approved, but if you do not recognize it, you were not a step closer to the boat. A spijtoptant was not the same as a Warga Negara, they were ex-wargamers Negara and moreover there were Warga Negara's lagging behind (perhaps spijtoptant had wanted, but that left aside). And those figures were slightly - good - otherwise, but he had to really do research itself here.
To my amazement I received a forwarded email in response to Bob, when someone complimented him on his piece, and several times repeated: "You did good out". "What they know now" stood between the bold lines. Someone who turned his grandfather, who had explained how Bob was, as formerly, in India. Suddenly I realized the downside of admiration for a grandfather, and the fact that all Indo's unique.
Alas, my question! That was how is it that so many variants circulating among Eurasians of Indian history?
This column was first published in Archipelago Magazine 2009 (autumn).
Ed Vos says:
October 22nd, 2009
11:03
Yes, Kirsten, this type of case, like you are going through one, are known to me.
The second generation was located in the sixties and seventies, busy having fun and most of the business other than "Indian". You know, Jimi Hendrix, etc.
Now the second generation of fifty or older and their children often can not contact them with questions about the past in India.
Yeah, then we go to grandpa, often Kniller, with unprocessed frustrated because who listened to him, with his crooked thoughts, and the like. This does not apply to all grandfathers
Children who take on all those ideas of what it was or how it should be about, discuss on the Internet, fill gaps by themselves to reason and try and draw the most amazing associations that make my toes in my sandals curves.
Come give me a Kirsten Fox to explaining how it actually is. Yeah, what she knows now, she still was not there himself?
Well there is a grandfather about you, but in my case there was a complete fanatic third generation, as bloodthirsty Knillers, complete with club threateningly over me.
Kirsten says:
October 22nd, 2009
10:33 p.m.
Thanks for your comment. And yes, I can propose something to the reactions that you've got over you ...
ing.RLMertens says:
October 26th, 2009
3:55 p.m.
Kirsten Day,
If grandpa (built in 1936 on 14jr.leeftijd arrived in Holland) Bob Stephan = requires me to your piece reageren.Allereerst symphatie would like to pay tribute to all those who studied this issue houden.Ben therefore remarkably proud that my grandson, just 15 jr.oud, has chosen this topic and even Archipelago opinion column gehaald.Veel know he was transferring him from wikipedia verkregen.Mijn especially invoking that Eurasians who the "other side" and chose facts or opinions wherever possible an objective view to our geschiedenis.En now my reactions;
Ad-sense "350,000-etc" indicates that the coarse estimates zijn.Conform CBS hdst.Demografie of the Indian Ned.van Beets are from 1946 and reached number ca.254.000.naar Ned.gekomen in 1959 325.000.personen.
Ad the phrase "this wargamers Negara's (repentis) were ..." A spijtoptant (indicating the Ned.overheid!) Warga Negara is a (nationality) which Ned.ging.Met komentar your translation (with Stephan) of "Warga Negara (Indonesia) = color of the country ", turn your board completely mis.Warga citizen warna = = kleur.Mijn advice is, please refer to behasa / Malay always a dictionary.
The discussions in my generation, who were sure, I always ended with the words: "Your Indies was / is not mine."
Perhaps it still geldt.Echter, truth must always be the motive.
I wish you the best writing about India toe.Met greeting.
Kirsten says:
November 1st, 2009
1:41 p.m.
Mr. Mertens day,
I will definitely follow your tip. The nice thing is that while I have been guided by a relative. So there you go.
Regards Kirsten