JAKARTA - Jongos. What comes to your head when you hear that word? Whatever you think, never just mention someone by that word. We are researching the long history of the word jongos. There is a deep dark meaning behind that word. Although on the other hand, history also records the good tone of the word jongos.
In principle, jongos is associated with referring to male domestic servants. The term `` jongos '' was popular during Indonesia's independence era. Qaris Tajudin, writing in Tempo Magazine, Jongos, Babu, Pembantu (2012), explained that the word jongos contains heavy anti-human elements. The bitter fiber of feudalistic plus colonialism is closely attached to the word.
Jongos, the meaning is so dark. Not only discriminatory, but also demeaning humanity. We contacted a sociologist from Makassar State University, Dimas Aryo Sumilih. He explained that the word jongos came from the term "jong", a kind of ancient sailing ship (jung) from Java which sailors and merchants used to transport spices.
The existence of the "jong" ship itself has been known for a long time, even sculpted on the reliefs of Borobudur Temple in the form of sister boats. The distinctive feature of the jong ship is that the sail is made of a woven rope reinforced by bamboo. By Javanese society, bamboo trees are known to have an important role which implies "struggle".
"Based on that description, the ship 'jong' was finally interpreted as a symbol of hard work, never giving up and daring to take risks (daring to die), just like" the ship "ready to sail the ocean. This attitude is the soul and enthusiasm for the 'jongen' or 'jonges', which in Dutch 'jongen' means boy, "said Dimas.
Long story short, the conception of the ship jong and jongen emerged into the meaning of the word "jongos". On that basis, the attitude of never giving up, hard work, and daring to die is attached to young people. In this perspective, the meaning of the word jongos is similar to the term "bung". Both of them present a tone of enthusiasm and struggle. Even so, the background for the formation of meaning and philosophy between the two words is clearly different.
"Young people and fighters in 'jongos' rely more on the aspects of hard work and dare to die physically. Meanwhile, 'bung' puts forward adulation and respect for the persistent and visionary young soul who uses maturity to think. "
Not surprisingly, the captain and his crew of the crew of the ship "Jong" were then called "Jongos." Then, the term jongos slowly developed. From the hull to every place. The word jongos extends to label every native servant.
Acmad Sunjayadi, in the book Tourism in the Dutch East Indies 1891–1942 (2019) tells the story of a British traveler, WB Worsfold, who greatly admires jongos. The deft Jongos made a pleasant impression on Worsfold's first visit to the Indies in 1892.
“The native Jongos are very nimble and willing to carry out guest orders. In fact, there are usually disasters because they are too diligent. He also added that residents in big cities and all the housemaids in hotels and homes can speak Malay, which is the language for communicating between them and Europeans, "wrote Achmad.
That is why many travelers hope that there are staff who can master English so that communication will run smoothly. Because of the special nature of the jongos, the tourism institution formed by the colonial government, Batavia Vereeniging Toeristenverkeer, included the luxury of native servant services in special rijsttafel dinners at luxury hotels in Batavia (Jakarta).
“One of the most extraordinary things about hotel life in Java is the rijsttafel. The banquet takes place at lunch time in an interesting manner seen only in the colonies of the Netherlands and Singapore. The plates were handed in turns by the native servants, bare feet giving the servants in silence. They wore semi-European cut clothes combined with Javanese sarongs, ”writes in the travel guidebook, Java the Wonderland (1900).
Not only as a hotel maid. Those who served on European ships bound for the Dutch East Indies were also called jongos. After all, a barmaid is as reliable as a waitress. The legendary writer Eduard Douwes Dekker or known by the pen name Multatuli tells a story about the jongos in his book Max Havelaar (1860), Multatuli writes the tragic love story of two native people, Saidjah and Adinda in one fragment.
It is said that Saidjah, who wanted to fulfill his dream of marrying Adinda, chose to migrate to Batavia to become a servant. Saidjah then promised Adinda, "When I return, we will be old enough to get married and have two buffaloes."
After arriving in Batavia, Saidjah got a job as a landlord working for a landlord. Not long after, "his employer even liked Saidjah so much that he immediately made him a housemaid, increased his salary, and always gave gifts to show that his service was very satisfying," said Multatuli.
Even though Saidjah's life is getting comfortable, he is determined to keep his promise to marry Adinda. Saidjah gave up his job as a servant and chose to go home and bring enough money to buy three buffaloes. Unfortunately, Adinda will never be met.
Word got out that Adinda and her father had left and joined the fighters against the Dutch army in Lampung. Saidjah also followed in his footsteps. However, Saidjah instead found Adinda dead with a body covered in wounds after being raped by the Dutch army in battle.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
