Snouck Hurgronje's Two Sides
Snouck Hurgronje is better known as a controversial figure than as an academic and scientist.
MOST Indonesians view Snouck Hurgronje as a controversial figure. Snouck's role in trying to extinguish the resistance of the Acehnese people made him considered an antagonist in the Aceh War (1873–1914).
On the other hand, the man who was born on February 8, 1857 was also known as a respected academic and orientalist. Wim van den Doel, author of the book Snouck: Biography of a Scientist Christian Snouck Hurgronje said that not a few people saw Snouck as a progressive thinker.
MOST Indonesians view Snouck Hurgronje as a controversial figure. Snouck's role in trying to extinguish the resistance of the Acehnese people made him considered an antagonist in the Aceh War (1873–1914).
On the other hand, the man who was born on February 8, 1857 was also known as a respected academic and orientalist. Wim van den Doel, author of the book Snouck: Biography of a Scientist Christian Snouck Hurgronje said that not a few people saw Snouck as a progressive thinker.
The discussion on the two sides of Snouck Hurgronje became the main theme in the book launch, mini symposium and photo exhibition titled "Admired and Despised: The Life and Works of Snouck Hurgronje" which was held at the National Library, Jakarta, Saturday (13/5/2022) . A photo exhibition featuring photos from the digital collection of the Leiden University Library, The Netherlands, will take place from 13 to 25 May 2023.
A number of figures attended as speakers at the event, including Jajat Burhanuddin, panelist from UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Jajang A. Rohmana, panelist from UIN Sunan Gunung Jati Bandung, Bonnie Triyana, panelist and chief editor of Historia.ID, and Wim van den Doel , author of the book Snouck: A Biography of Scientist Christian Snouck Hurgronje .
According to Jajat Burhanuddin, the presence of Snouck's book: Biography of Scientist Christian Snouck Hurgronje not only enriches the Indonesian archipelago's historical literature in general, but can also become an additional reference for Dutch scientists who research Islam in the archipelago, especially Snouck Hurgronje.
"Apart from providing advice to the Dutch Colonial government, including intelligence briefings on military surprise attacks in Aceh, Snouck Hurgronje's career is also related to his understanding of Islam," said Jajat.
Jajat added, "Starting from his encounters with a number of Indonesian Muslims, Snouck continued his research by observing the ways in which Javanese clerics practiced Islamic teachings until they developed into an established system. Through these observations, the level of penetration of Islam in the lives of Muslims can be measured."
Meanwhile, Jajang revealed that Snouck Hurgronje received assistance from a number of people in conducting research related to Islam in the archipelago. One of them is Haji Hasan Mustapa who is known as a famous scholar and poet in the land of Pasundan.
“Snouck and Hasan Mustapa first met in Mecca. Communication between the two continued after Snouck lived in the Dutch East Indies," said Jajang.
Hasan Mustapa was not just a brainstorming partner for Snouck. His ability to write and read Arabic script made him an important informant for Snouck and the Dutch colonial government. He also served as head of the chief princes in Kutaraja (1893–1895) and Bandung (1895–1917).
Wim van den Doel said that Snouck Hurgronje's discussion was not only about his role as an aide to the Dutch colonial government in quelling the resistance of the Acehnese people, which then made Snouck's figure often considered controversial because of his connection with colonialism in the past.
"Apart from his role as a state official who was sent to the colony, one of the reasons for research on Islam that Snouck studied was out of curiosity as a scientist and academic," said Van den Doel.
Meanwhile, Bonnie Triyana said that the interesting thing related to the discussion on Snouck Hurgronje is how today's society, especially the Indonesian people, see the figure of Snouck. He said that in a poll on social media, most of the public saw Snouck Hurgronje as a Dutch colonial spy, in addition to several others seeing Snouck as an academic and figure who played a role in reducing the resistance of the Acehnese people.
"Our need to see Snouck today may be different from several decades which were colored and influenced by very nationalistic and patriotic historiographical traditions, so that we often forget that in certain cases there are areas that we really need to explore in more detail," said Bonnie.
Bonnie emphasizes the importance of viewing history contextually as an effort to minimize views that generalize certain figures in history. "And what is more important is how to share this knowledge with the public so that the stigma does not continue," said Bonnie.
In line with Bonnie, Jajang also revealed that reading history needs to be done chronologically. "Don't jump, don't position figures in the past with our point of view in the present," said Jajang. "Because our perspective in the present is different from the past."
In this regard, Jajang said that Snouck's book: Scientist Biography Christian Snouck Hurgronje contributed to describing Snouck Hurgronje's complex life.*
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