It’s wild how a random late-night search can open the door to something you didn’t know you were missing.
One evening, I typed my grandfather’s name into WorldCat, the global library catalog. I didn’t expect much. I just wanted to see if anything about him would show up. Maybe a small mention. A footnote.
But there it was.
His first book, Aceh Daerah Modal: Long March ke Medan Area, wasn’t just archived. It was listed in university libraries all over the world. Harvard. Cornell. Yale. Leiden. To my surprise, the same was true for his second book as well.
I stared at the screen in disbelief.
How had I never known this?
A Piece of Indonesian History
His first book arrived a few days later. The moment I opened the package, the faint scent of old pages hit me. I immediately ran my fingers over the cover. Holding it felt like holding a piece of my childhood.
The book details Aceh’s vital role in the Indonesian independence struggle, particularly in the defense of the Medan Area. My grandfather wasn’t just a witness. He lived it. He fought, documented, and later preserved that moment in our nation’s history.
It was published on 9 September 1992. Strangely, I bought my copy on 11 September 2024. That odd symmetry gave me chills, as if the universe were nudging me to remember him.
Childhood Memories
Now, every time I open the book, it’s more than just reading. It’s a conversation across time. I hear his voice in every sentence. I remember his stories, his way of talking, even his subtle humor.
I kept whispering to myself, “Wow… he could really write.”
Reading his words brought back his world.
My home growing up was a library. There were stacks of encyclopedias, dictionaries, religious texts, history books, political books, biographies, etc. Books were everywhere, on tables and shelves. My grandfather also kept newspaper clippings.
Every morning, he’d sit on the porch with his tea and read the newspaper. You could hear the crinkle of the pages and the occasional scribble of his pen making notes. Later in the day, it was the rhythmic clack of his typewriter, his thoughts being translated into words.
That world of constant curiosity, of ideas, shaped me.
A Legacy Bigger Than I Knew
Just when I thought I was starting to grasp who he was, I stumbled onto more.
While researching further, I discovered that he was a founding figure of the Faculty of Communication Sciences at Universitas Padjajaran in 1960. That alone floored me. But there was more.
He had served as Executive Editor of BOLA, a legendary Indonesian sports magazine. I remember seeing it around our house, never realizing he had been one of the voices behind it. He loved all kinds of sports, but especially boxing. Now I know, it wasn’t just a hobby, he studied the strategy, the storytelling within every match.
Later, he became Editor-in-Chief of Harian Umum PELITA, a respected Jakarta daily. And eventually, he served as a member of the MPR RI (People’s Consultative Assembly), representing the FKP faction during a critical period in Indonesia’s political evolution.
I even remember seeing him on TV a couple of times when I was younger, being interviewed, speaking with composure and clarity. I didn’t understand what he was saying then, but I understand now: he was someone people listened to.
That realization hit hard.
It felt like I was unlocking sealed chapters of his story, chapters I hadn’t even known existed.
Inheriting More Than Just Stories
This journey has made me reflect on what I’ve truly inherited from him.
He wasn’t just a scholar, a politician, or a writer, he was a man of values. Since I was little, he taught me about perseverance, grit, integrity, and discipline. He reminded me to pursue passion and live life with purpose.
He also was proud of his roots, Aceh. At home, we spoke Acehnese. It wasn’t just a language. It was identity. That cultural grounding is something I carry deeply to this day.
What I’ve Come to Understand
What began as a simple search turned into something far deeper, a rediscovery of legacy and memory. His words didn’t just bring back stories. They brought back connection.
Until next time <3
Cheers,
DB
Daisy 