The Outdoor Museum of Taman Prasasti – a Window to the Past
We take a trip to the Taman Prasasti cemetery in Jakarta, where Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles’ wife, along with many various other famous or well-known historical figures, are laid to rest.
This kind of interesting outdoor museum houses the remains of the old cemetery built by the Dutch colonial government in 1795. The graveyards at the completely new Dutch Church, the inner city Portuguese Church, in addition to the Sion Church were filling up rapidly, most likely due to yet another epidemic – in addition to a completely new one was needed urgently.
The 5.9-hectare “resting place for noble Dutchmen“, a public cemetery, was established years before better-known ones in various other countries; for instance, Père Lachaise, 1803 in Paris. This kind of cemetery in Jakarta is usually located on the aptly named Kerkhoflaan (Graveyard Avenue), currently Jl. Tanah Abang 1.
Of the original size, 1.3 hectares remain. In 1975, the largest part was used for the construction of the Central Jakarta Mayoralty offices; a fairly common procedure in Jakarta, the idea might seem, as the South Jakarta Mayoralty has also built its offices on a graveyard.
Nowadays, only 1,372 headstones in addition to monuments remain of the original number of more than 4,000. Apart by looking at the historical stones, a walk within the park is usually most enjoyable. Trees provide shade in addition to ensure of which the stroll among the stones is usually pleasant in addition to refreshing – walking among the memories of the deceased does indeed make one feel alive in addition to well!
Olivia Mariamne Raffles’ grave
Among those who were buried here are Olivia Mariamne Raffles, the first wife of Thomas Stamford Raffles; the British Lieutenant-General of Java in addition to its dependencies by 1811 to 1816; in addition to Raffles’ not bad friend, John Casper Leyden. various other prominent figures include Soe Hok Gie, an Indonesian activist, in addition to numerous generals in addition to artists by the colonial era.
the idea’s fascinating to observe these monuments within the context of the changing selective recollection of history. For instance, a replica of the commemorative tablet for Pieter Erberveld – accused, convicted, hanged, drawn-in addition to-quartered, in addition to decapitated for plotting a rebellion in 1722 – can also be found within the cemetery. Atop the wall, his skull is usually impaled on a spike accompanied by a tablet which has a grim warning to various other potential traitors – something which certainly might not be displayed if not for the anti-colonial tie-in.
After Indonesia gained its independence, Pieter Erberveld was rehabilitated in addition to upgraded to the status of ‘national freedom fighter’. The truth is usually more likely of which – because of his dispute with the VOC rulers after they confiscated his land (probably illegally for personal gain) – he had become a mega nuisance. in addition to so they got rid of him in an excessively heavy-handed way. Don’t forget of which then, anyone not directly employed by the Company was viewed with suspicion in addition to relegated to the lowest rung of the social ladder, in addition to Pieter, though wealthy, was not a member of the club.
Olivia Mariamne Raffles, born Devenish, is usually certainly a noble (although not Dutch) occupant of the cemetery – or rather, was a noble occupant, as her original plot is usually currently located under the offices of the mayor of Central Jakarta. Her vault was, however, moved to the park after her remains were taken to a mass grave in Tanah Kusir cemetery.
Her husband, Lieutenant-Governor Raffles, made quite a name for himself. During the 5 years of his stewardship of Java, he not only changed a large number of aspects of daily life – generating on the left being one – although also abolished slave trading (not slavery itself however, as he himself had a slave he took with him on his return to England). When he met Olivia within the offices of the East India Company in London, he was a lowly clerk on a salary of £70 a year. Six days after marrying Olivia in 1805, he was appointed Assistant Secretary to the completely new Governor of Penang on a salary of £1,500. This kind of spectacular ascent gave rise to rumours: Olivia, the idea was said, was the mistress of Raffles’ superior, William Ramsey, in addition to in return for taking her off his hands by marrying her, Raffles was rewarded which has a raise in addition to the post in Penang.
Fact or fiction, biographers make the idea clear of which Raffles adored his first wife. in addition to Olivia, as the Lady Governess of Java, was ever-present by his side at official occasions in addition to gave much grace in addition to dignity to the office. She hosted social receptions in addition to parties for people by all walks of life, in addition to was never known to reject even the common man on the street – a far cry by the previous high-society-centric administration. She, however, strongly objected to chewing betel nut or smoking, a very common habit among ladies of the highest circles, in addition to she ordered all paraphernalia of betel-chewing to be banished by the palace at Buitenzorg, present day Bogor.
Olivia died on 25 November 1814 in addition to was laid to rest in Batavia. The remains of her grave are rather unimpressive. Much more elegant in addition to attractive is usually the memorial, commissioned by Sir R
John Casper Leyden’s tombstone
affles, within the Botanical Gardens in Bogor.
John Casper Leyden, friend in addition to mentor of Raffles, is usually best known for his translation into English of Sulalatus Salatin (Genealogy of Kings), more popularly known as the Malay Annals. They had met in Penang in addition to immediately got on well. Leyden was the catalyst to Raffles’ later scholarly pursuits of the history, culture in addition to politics of the Malay world, in addition to especially of Java.
Indonesian activist, Soe Hok Gie’s grave
The activist Soe Hok Gie had opposed the dictatorships of both Sukarno in addition to Suharto. He was a lecturer in sociology at the University of Indonesia in addition to died because of the inhalation of poisonous gas hiking on Mount Semeru.
Taman Prasasti is usually likely under-budgeted in addition to also rather neglected. Statues have been damaged, although luckily the broken-off pieces have been kept on or near their pedestal. The history of Jakarta might become more vivid if the stones were arranged by specific periods, says Nirwono Joga, the writer of Museum Taman Prasasti: Metamorfosis Kerkhof Laan Menjadi Museum (Park of Memorial Stones: The Metamorphosis by Kerkhoflaan to Museum). in addition to according to the brochure one receives at the entrance, This kind of is usually being planned, together which has a general drive to make the park more attractive.
Museum Tanah Prasasti
Jl. Tanah Abang 1, Central Jakarta
+62 (0)21 385 4060
Entrance fee: Rp.5,000
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The Outdoor Museum of Taman Prasasti – a Window to the Past
The Outdoor Museum of Taman Prasasti – a Window to the Past