Table Of ContentASIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Southeast Asia Publications Series
To Remain Myself
ASIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
Southeast Asia Publications Series
Since 1979 the Southeast Asia Publications Series (SEAPS) has brought some of the best of
Australian scholarship on Southeast Asia to an international readership. It seeks to publish
leading-edge research by both young and established scholars on the countries and peoples
of Southeast Asia across all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences with particular
encouragement to interdisciplinary and comparative research.
SEAPS is now published for the Asian Studies Association of Australia by NUS Press, a unit
of the National University of Singapore, in alliance with the University of Hawai‘i Press in
North America.
Editorial Board
Professor Edward Aspinall (Australian National University) (Editor)
Professor Barbara Andaya (University of Hawai‘i and University of Hawai‘i Press)
Dr. Nicholas Cheesman (Australian National University) (Editor)
Professor Robert Cribb (Australian National University)
Associate Professor Melissa Crouch (University of New South Wales)
Professor Emeritus Howard Dick (University of Melbourne/Newcastle)
Professor Emeritus Robert Elson (University of Queensland)
Professor Michele Ford (University of Sydney)
Professor Ariel Heryanto (Monash University)
Dr. Holly High (University of Sydney)
Gerald Jackson (NIAS – Nordic Institute of Asian Studies)
Dr. Patrick Jory (University of Queensland)
Dr Paul Kratoska (NUS Press, National University of Singapore)
Associate Professor Julian Millie (Monash University)
Professor Lyn Parker (University of Western Australia)
Dr. Jayde Roberts (University of New South Wales)
Professor Emeritus Kathryn Robinson (Australian National University)
Professor Mina Roces (University of New South Wales)
Peter Schoppert (NUS Press, National University of Singapore)
Associate Professor Maila Stivens (University of Melbourne)
Professor Adrian Vickers (University of Sydney)
Website: http://asaa.asn.au/book-series/southeast-asia/
To Remain Myself
The History of Onghokham
David Reeve
ASIAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA
in association with
NUS PRESS
© 2022 David Reeve
Published by:
NUS Press
National University of Singapore
AS3-01-02, 3 Arts Link
Singapore 117569
Fax: (65) 6774-0652
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://nuspress.nus.edu.sg
ISBN 978-981-325-159-5 (paper)
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or
any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented,
without written permission from the Publisher.
National Library Board, Singapore Cataloguing in Publication Data
Name(s): Reeve, David, 1946-
Title: To remain myself : the history of Onghokham / David Reeve.
Other title(s): Southeast Asia publications series.
Description: Singapore : Asian Studies Association of Australia in association
with NUS Press, [2022] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifier(s): OCN 1255772891 | ISBN 978-981-325-159-5 (paperback)
Subject(s): LCSH: Onghokham, 1933-2007. | Historians--Indonesia--
Biography.
Classification: DDC 959.802092--dc23
Cover: Ong at Tempo, 1980s (Source: Tempo, used with permission).
Typeset by: Ogma Solutions Pvt Ltd
Printed by: Markono Print Media Pte Ltd
Contents
List of Illustrations vii
Acknowledgements ix
Introduction: Why Ong? 1
1. Childhood 8
2. War, Revolution and Education 44
3. Becoming Indonesian, Becoming Chinese 75
4. Turning to Java 116
5. Breakdown and Jail 153
6. In America 180
7. The Peak of His Career 202
8. In Retirement 249
9. The Legacy 291
Glossary and Abbreviations 300
Appendix: Onghokham’s Writings, 1958–2019 305
Bibliography 321
Index 329
v
List of Illustrations
Photographs
1.1 Han Hoo Tong and his second wife, Ong Ik Nio. 20
1.2 Han Hoo Tong family gathering. 21
1.3 The marriage of Han Hoo Tong’s son, 1905. 22
1.4 Han Hoo Tong’s house today. 25
3.1 Ong in Bandung, 1954. 76
3.2 Ong with Frits Tan in Cibodas Park, 1957. 85
3.3 P.K. Oyong on the cover of Helen Ishwara’s biography. 91
3.4 A Fuk 1958 and Giman 1959: “always succeed thanks
to Blue Band”. 96
3.5 Ong with Philippines politicians and unexploded
World War II ordinance. 99
3.6 Ong with Indonesian embassy staff in Manila. 99
3.7 Badak bin Badak/Rhino son of Rhino. 110
4.1 Ong with fellow UI students, 1961. 117
4.2 Soe Hok Gie, on the back cover of Catatan Seorang Demonstran. 132
5.1 Nugroho Notosusanto. 165
5.2 Soedjatmoko. 167
7.1 Ong at Tempo, 1980s. 207
7.2 The study and sitting room in Ong’s house were photographed
for the book Java Style, as Ong’s decor helped set the 1990s trend
for the use of Javanese architecture and antique furniture
in fashionable Jakarta homes. 228
7.3 History staff and students from Universitas Indonesia
at Ong’s house, 1980s. 233
7.4 Dinner at Ong’s house, 1990s. 235
7.5 Ong with the writer, c. 1985. 235
7.6 Ong at South East Asian Studies conference, Japan, 1983. 238
7.7 Ong with Dan Lev, 1984. 238
7.8 The Tuyul conference, Semarang, 24–25 October 1986. 244
7.9 Tuyul conference cartoon. 244
vii
viii List of Illustrations
7.10 Ong in China, 1988–89. 247
7.11 Ong and Miriam Margoyles in Italy, 1990s. 247
8.1 Dinner at Ong’s house, 1998. 255
8.2 Ong with friend Liz Oley, 1990s. 255
8.3 Ong at the Feith conference, Monash, 1992. 265
8.4 Ong with Betty and Herb Feith, 1990s. 277
8.5 Ong with Pramoedya Ananta Toer (left), 1990s. 279
8.6 Ong with Benedict Anderson and Mely Tan, c. 1999. 280
8.7 Ong in his wheelchair, 2002. 285
9.1 Ong’s thesis published in 2018. 292
9.2 Ong being interviewed, around 2000. 295
9.3 Onze Ong cover, 2007. 296
Figures
1.1 Map of East Java. 10
1.2 Ong Hok Ham: Partial family tree. 12
Tables
1.1 Surabaya population, c. 1933. 33
3.1 Leading daily newspapers and party affiliation, c.1956. 90
Acknowledgements
There are so many people who have helped in the long process of compiling this
biography.
I owe special thanks to members of the Ong family, especially Ong’s niece
Paoke Hudyana, and also Chaochi Hudyana, Olga, Atmadja, Tante Greet and her
sister Tante Lies, Poplin Kusuma, Kie An, Carolyn, Bingky, Heidi and Yudith.
Many thanks to the people who supplied photographs and gave permission
for their use, and especially to Dominic Gardiner for his work on higher-
resolution copies.
Thanks to a range of research assistants who worked on the book at various
times, Wasmi Alhaziri, Ravando Lie, Christian Reinhart, Rahmat, a small team of
assistants organised by Dwi Mulyatari at Universitas Indonesia, and in particular
historian, colleague and old friend Iskandar P. Nugraha, a constant source of help
and insights.
Particular thanks must go to the people who enabled me to access Ong’s
letters, John Monfries, Dan Lev, Benedict Anderson with the great help of Ben
Abel, and staff at the Monash University Feith archives. Amrih Widodo kindly
made available a copy of Ong’s undergraduate thesis on the Samin. The staff at
Tempo and Kompas were very helpful.
Then there was a veritable army of Ong’s friends, students and colleagues
from the worlds of academe and the press and beyond: Abdullah Alamudi,
Mohammad Abduh, Abupriyadi Santoso, Adi Prabowo, Adri Lapian, Agrar
Sudradjat, Alice Bunnell, Amrih Widodo, Andi Achdian, Angus MacIntyre,
Anhar Djamal, Anhar Gonggong, Anno, Anthony Reid, Anton Alifandi,
Ardiyanto, Arief Budiman, Aristiddes Katoppo, Asvi Warman, Bambang
Hartanto, Bambang Purwanto, Barbara Hatley, Barbara Leigh, Benedict
Anderson, Benny Subianto, Bernhard Dahm, Bibsy Soenharjo, Bill Skinner,
Bill Watson, Blanche d’Alpuget, Budi Agustino, Burhan Magenda, Caroline S.
Hau, Carolyn van Langenberg, Clara Yuwono, Charles Coppel, Charlie Bryant,
Charnwit Kasetsiri, Claudine Salmon, Colin Brown, Dameria Nainggolan,
Danang T.P., David Hill, David Walker, Dede Oetomo, Dewi Rais Abin,
Didik Pardjoko, Djoko Surjo, Dwi Mulyatari, Ed Aspinall, Elke Dahm, Erik
ix
x Acknowledgements
Hammerstein, Fikri Jufri, Francesca Beddie, Frances Gouda, Fred Bunnell, Frits
Kakiailatu, Frits Tan, George Quinn, Go Gien Tjwan, Goenawan Mohamad,
Greg Churchill, Gerry van Klinken, Gert Hekma, Gusti Asnan, Halim, Hamish
Mcdonald, Hardoyo, Harimurti, Harjoko Trisnadi, Harold Crouch, Harry
Tjan, Helen Ishwara, Helene van Klinken, Hendri, Hendy Sahertian, Herwin
Sumarda, Hindra Soemardjan, Hugh O’Neill, Ian Lincoln, Ibrahim Isa, Iem
Brown, Imam Ahmad, Irma Notosusanto, Ita, Ivan Kats, J. Soegiarto, Jakob
Vredeberg, Jamie Mackie, Janet Chauvel, J.D. Legge, Jean Gelman Taylor, Jim
Coombs, Jim Siegel, J.J. Rizal, John McGlynn, John Holloway, John Maxwell,
John Monfries, Joss Wibisono, Julia Suryakusuma, Kasiyanto, Kevin Evans,
Kresno Brahmantyo, Kusumanto Setyonegoro, Lesmana Laddy.
Lance Castles, R.Z. Leirissa, Leonard Andaya, Leo Suryadinata, Liem Tie
Bing, Lily Manus, Linawati Sidarto, Liz Oley, Lucas, Lukas, Mamoto, Margot
Lyon, Mary Somers Heidhues, Max Lane, Mely Tan, Marieke Bloembergen,
Marsillam Simanjuntak, Mestika Zed, Michael Leigh, Mike Oley, Millie
Wagemann, Moerdiyanto, Mohammed Iskandar, Mona Lohanda, Myra Sidharta,
Nana Nurliana, Non Agnes Santana, Nopriyasman, M. Nursam, Nyoman Jati,
Oei Hiem Hwie, Peter Rodgers, Peter Sie, Petrus HH, Pram Soetikno, Rahardi
S. Kardi, Ria Sitompul, Richard Chauvel, Rino Eddy Suwandi, Roger Paget, Ron
Hatley, Ronald Siefken, Ros Levitus, Ruth McVey, Sabam Siagian, Saleh Asaad,
Sarah Weiss, Sartono Kartodirdjo, Savitri Scherer, Sidney Jones, Soemartini,
Sri Margana, Sriyani, Sudarini, Suparno, Susanto, Tarmiji Tahir, Terry Rolfe,
Thee Kian Wie, Tim Lindsay, Titi Irsyam, Toebagus Lutfi, Toenggoel Siagian,
Toeti Heraty, Toeti Kakiailatu, Tony Day, Tony Pratt, Vic Halim, Wannafi
Samry, Wardi, Wibisono, Wilson, Win, Winneke de Groot, Yang Suwan, Yayuk
Sudibyo, Yong Mun Cheong, Yoshi Kato, Yunus Yahya. My apologies if I have
omitted some names.
Various readers gave most helpful comments on parts of the book, including
Julia Read, John McGlynn, Yang Suwan, Paoke Hudyana, Benny Subianto,
Genevieve Bessell-Browne, Geoff Wall and Ian Lincoln. And the major readers
for the ASAA, Tony Day and Charles Coppel, plus the most kind and detailed
comments of Howard Dick. Their many comments and recommendations
determined the direction a rough draft would take.
The major editor of my first confused and rambling drafts was Robyn
Fallick, and if this work has consistency and flow, it is due to her patient and
expert work. Robyn Fallick deserves very great thanks.
