Dutch colonization of Indonesia started somewhere in the 15th century and they went on "civilizing" the "primitive" natives right until the 19th century. Of course, they also made laws to take over control of the trade of all the fur, cloves, nutmegs,  etc just like colonialists "have" to. Laws were also further made to exploit the natives rendering them extremely poor and with no respect. As goes in most stories of oppression, it's the native women who suffered more than the men (the language of queerness is not even uttered). 

This Earth of Mankind, is the first book of the Buru Quartet, an epic work of literature by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, an Indonesian communist writer, who was imprisoned for 2 years by Dutch and then 10 years by authoritarian Indonesian president, Suharto. The book was first an oral narrative, because Pramoedya did not have access to pen and paper in the jail. It was later turned into a written book in Bahasa Indonesian, with the help of his fellow inmates. All his works including the Quartet were banned for his scathing criticism of the colonial and authoritarian policies. While the ban has been lifted in 2010, despite being a prominent figure in the history of Indonesia, the schools do not have his books in their curriculum till this very day. It becomes an even bigger obligation then, upon us as readers who are not based in Indonesia, to read and speak about the book, the first chance we get. 

This first book follows the story of Minke, a descendant of Native Javanese royalty, who studies at the the elite H. B. S., alongside the Dutch students. It begins with Minke's meeting with Nyai Ontosorah, concubine of a white man called Herman Mellema, and their "Indo" (Mixed blood) child, Annelies Mellema, in their estate, Boerderij Buitenzorg, of the Buitenzorg Agricultural Company. The estate and the family is guarded by a Madurese fighter, Darsam. The story then follows Annelies and Minke's love, Nyai Ontosorah's exceptional skills and education despite no formal degree and low status, Minke's family, his growth as a person, his political views and influences, his conversations with his peers and subordinates, and political controversies.

The writing style takes a bit of a getting used to. My guess is it is because of the language and culture related nuance. Max Lane, the translator, has done a good job of retaining the essential aspects of the culture and the language. The narrative style is journalistic. It reads as Minke's narration of the events as they occurred. There is an exchange of several letters in the narration during which it assumes a temporary epistolary form. 

The characters are fascinating in their attitudes, ideas, lives and personalities. The book is rich in its vivid descriptions of contemporary Indonesia at the turn of the 19th century, its history, and its growing unrest. 

I am definitely reading the Quartet through the rest of the year, along with Max Lane's "Indonesia Out of Exile: How Pramoedya’s Buru Quartet Killed a Dictatorship".

I read the book for #translatedgemsbookclub 's March reading and now we plan to read the Quartet though the year together.