JAKARTA - The bicycle is a social symbol. No one can deny that. Especially from a historical point of view. When the new bicycle entered Indonesia in the 1890s, the bicycle became a marker of social status. The Bumiputras who owned bicycles were limited to aristocrats and priyayi. Those who are not priyayi will be considered strange if they use bicycles.
Bicycles or what are often called wind trains are an important part of the development of world transportation technology, including the Dutch East Indies. Since its inception, bicycles have been roaming the streets of the Dutch East Indies.
The popularity of bicycles was pioneered by the military, colonial officials, and the Bumiputra nobility. Since then, the Dutch East Indies became a market for foreign-made bicycles. Bike brands that were in great demand at that time were limited to Fongers, Batavus, Sparta, Gazelle, Humber, Phillips, Raleigh, Goricke, and Fahrrad.
The European-made bicycles were shipped using wood or coal-fired fireboats. Bicycle shipments have also been recorded in the Dutch record of expenditures for Dutch East Indies imports, along with other commodities.
It is recorded that the expenditure for imports issued by the colonial government reached 948 million guilders during 1928. Much of this need was imported from the Netherlands, England, Singapore, Germany, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Bicycles in the Dutch East Indies (Source: geheugen.delpher.nl)
“The Netherlands provides 18.12 percent, mostly in cotton goods, tools, machinery and tools, iron and steel goods, cigars, tobacco and cigarettes. United Kingdom 12.56 percent, for most cotton goods, groceries, iron and steel goods. Singapore as a distribution center, 11.64 percent, mainly in rice, other foodstuffs, and cotton manufacturing,” said J. Stroomberg in the book Dutch East Indies 1930 (2018).
“Germany 10.68 percent, mainly in machinery, tools, iron and steel goods. United States 10.16 percent, mainly in cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and so on. Japan 9.88 percent, mostly in cotton goods. Australia 2.74 per cent, mainly butter and flour," he added.
However, the bicycles that existed at that time were far from comfortable. Moreover, the brakes used for bicycles are still in the form of puncture brakes. A single brake that presses the front wheel from above, not from the side.
The tires also still use dead tires (without air) which make the bike owner's butt spicy when used on potholes and rocky roads. Bikes aren't even equipped with chain covers yet. It still looks very simple.
“The vehicle which has been developed rapidly since 1890 can indeed be considered as part of an era of transportation technology. Since its first design, countless inventors have added something to this device which is also called a 'wind train' or 'pit' (Java) or 'basikal' (Malaysia). Tires are dead, without air, which makes the rider's butt feel hot when the bicycle takes a bad road and we still experienced this in the first years of the 1950s,” was present in a Tempo Magazine report entitled Footprints of a Bike in the Battlefield (1983).
Priyayi social status marker bicycleThe price of bicycles during the Dutch colonial period was almost equivalent to the price of an ounce of gold. Therefore, the bicycle is not only known as a mere means of transportation, but also as a marker of social status. Apart from the Dutch and the aristocrats, those who could afford bicycles were limited to the noble aristocracy.
And even then at least with a salary of 135 guilders per month. With that much salary, a priyayi can buy a bicycle with the best brand. Even if not purchased in cash, but through credit. Because priyayi at that time was identical as krediet waardig (people often did credit).
“During the Dutch colonial period, the priyayi lifestyle and the people who worked in the governorate were known to be exclusive. If initially they used horses or horse-drawn carriages as a means of transportation, bicycles began to be used. The sound of drums and loud tinkling bells makes them even more proud to ride a bicycle,” writes Piet Onthel's book (2011).
The pride of owning a bicycle was also briefly expressed by young Soekarno. As a lowly priyayi, Soekarno was envious of his friends who owned bicycles at Hoogere Burgerschool (HBS).
According to Bung Karno, every child at HBS has a bicycle, while he does not have one. Finally Bung Karno tried hard to be able to buy a bicycle. After buying the bicycle that he dreamed of, Bung Karno dissolved into happiness.
“HBS is located one kilometer from Gang Paneleh. Every child has a bicycle. I didn't myself. Usually I ride with a friend or walk," Soekarno was quoted by Cindy Adams in Bung Karno's book: The Indonesian People's Tongue Connector (1965).
"I started saving and saving constantly and when I collected eight rupiahs, I bought a shiny black Fongers, a Dutch bicycle. I took care of him like a mother. I rubbed him. I held him. I stroked him."
Bung Karno was not the only one who felt strange if a priyayi didn't have a bicycle. At that time, other bumiputras had identified that priyayi were always associated with bicycles. If not, then something feels odd.
the former Minister of Religion of the Soekarno era, Saifuddin Zuhri (1919-1986) also revealed the same thing. When he was still in boarding school, one of his teachers, Kiai Khalimi, who was also a priyayi, was known to not really like cycling.
First, the assumption was spread because the kiai was not very good at riding a bicycle. Second, Kiai Khalimi never wanted to ride. As a result, the kiai often chooses to walk. The presence of a priyayi who does not use a bicycle makes students and the surrounding community joke, "Why can't a priyayi ride a bicycle?"
“How many times have he been advised to learn to ride a bicycle, but he doesn't want to. Why? Let you understand that everyone has flaws and defects. Only the Prophet who has no defects, that's the answer," said Saifuddin Zuhri in the book Guruku Orang-Orang from Pesantren (2001).
What caught my attention again was the cigarettes. He always smokes clove cigarettes, which people in my village think are 'priyayi cigarettes.' Sometimes white cigarettes. Not klembak-menyan cigarettes. The children sometimes say: "Why can't men ride bicycles?"
*Read other information about NUSANTARA HISTORY or read other interesting articles from Detha Arya Tifada.
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