A Critical Response to Carey's book

ICRS Yogya
Class of History of Religion in Indonesia Part II
Dr. Bernard Adeney-Risakotta
Dr. Sri Margono

Assignment week 2
Abraham S. Wilar

Religion and Colonialism
A Critical Response to Carey’s book
“The Power of Prophecy: Prince Dipanegara and the end of and Old Order in Java”

The declining of Dutch colonialism, as represented by its VOC in the Netherlands Indies (later known as ‘Indonesia’), was at least caused by the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War of 1780-1783, and that war had brought Holland in bankruptcy with mounting debts which peaked at 134 million guilders (p.xi). According to Carey’s argument, that war is the historical setting on the Dutch side that must be remembered because it is the ‘identity marker’ for understanding the character of its colonialism, as related to the rebel of Dipanegara against it. Carey’s book discusses the environment where a strong charismatic leader of Pangeran Dipanegara (1785-1855) emerged, the messianic hope a la Javanese people, as represented in the story of Ratu Adil (Just King), the concept of Holy War derived from Islamic atmosphere, and certain Javanese sentiments. Those all points discussed in his book were ‘domestic’ components which had been contributed to make up a countering movement against the Dutch colonialism (p.xiv). And later on this movement, as believed by Carey, had in partial participated in making of ‘Indonesian nationalism’ feelings amongst the inhabitants of the Netherlands Indies.
Since I have not read thoroughly of Carey’s book, but only 1-100 pages I read by now, I cannot presume myself that the pages I read are already well-installed in my memory, and also I cannot assume my critical response can really become ‘critical’ towards it. It is simply because it has delivered its readers abundant information more than expected which need huge storage to keep the information, and as a fascinating book it was written with not only more detailed information but also great passion and interests in Indonesia. In delivering my critical response I would therefore focus on the following points: first, the advent and emergence of colonialism powers practiced by European country and, second, the domestic condition where such domination had been practiced.
Carey has mentioned above the historical background for the declining of the Dutch colonialism in the Netherlands Indie (NI), and in some part talked the Anglo-Dutch war, and even the occupation of Holland by the French Army in December 1794-January 1795 which had resulted to bring Holland to become powerless country and affected its control on people in the Netherlands Indie (NI). In other words, the Dutch colonialism had actually been part of the advent and emergence of colonialism amongst the European country during 18th and 19th Century. During those periods of time, countries like British Empire, French, Holland, Spain, and Portuguese were among the main actors for the colonialism project within or outside Europe. And all the colonial powers emerged in Europe in that time was in fact focused on gaining political power to have benefit primarily on economics issue. This was the factor which had motivated the Dutch to expand NI, and in this type of European colonialism, if I may call it so, religion was a minor force to initiate such domination. What interests me of this background is the fact showed in this book that there was certain interconnectivity between the power struggle took place amongst the European countries (for example, the British Empire’s desire to take over NI from the Dutch after the Dutch’s lost from the French) and the rebel against the foreign powers occurred in NI.
On the other side, to extend the historical background of the emergence of colonialism powers, the influence of Islam in Asia, from which it came to Asia directly from Middle East as a part of Islamic expanses (or colonialism?) that was started in the 6th and the 7th century, and eventually arrived in NI around 11th century or even earlier, has become helpful resources for the inhabitants of NI, including Dipanegara, to force against colonialism powers. And as Carey has pointed out how Dipanegara, who was born to Kraton Yogyakarta family, had been under influence of santri circle of Yogyakarta and Surakarta during his boyhood (p.88), and had Kyai Maja as his religious adviser (p.99), and two Jeddah-born men as his important councilors (p.101), I have got impression that Islam and its certain tenets had been playing more roles in Dipanegara’s leadership during the Java War than his ‘Javanese’ aspect. Therefore, it seems to me Islam has been more powerful ideology to influence people to fight against the Dutch than the Javanese culture.
Unfortunately, although in one of his conclusion he has clearly stated the role of Islam in Dipanegara’s engagement during Java War and also Carey has mentioned the understanding of Dipanegara on Islam (p.110), Carey’s description has not paid attention to any historical information or datum on, for example, what advises given by his Jeddah-born advisers, and what kind of religious conversation he got from Kyai Madja as related to political struggle. Datum available on this subject would have made clearer the picture of the role of Islam and its relations to local politics, economy, and social structure amongst the Javanese during Dipanegara’s time. Therefore I think on this subject Carey’s book has its little lack.
The role of the influence of Islam in NI is actually one essential aspect of domestic conditions where the Dutch colonialism had been practiced. So, if Carey were consciously neglecting it while discussing the role of Dipanegara during the Java War, it seems the domestic conditions of politics, economy and social structure he has extensively discussed are looked incomplete. To borrow Carey’s word to describe such incomplete exploration, that condition is just like describing Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. Therefore I believe that the connection of Islam with the local politics, economy and social structure must be explored too by Carey. How each of these four aspects had been related to and influenced by each other, and how these four aspects were united and used to become powerful resources for supporting certain rebel amongst the Javanese during the Java War.