My Life Tutors (Part 1): Encounter with Peter Carey
In early January 2023, as pandemic-related social restrictions began to ease, my tutor, Peter Carey, offered me two tickets to the premiere screening of the film “Autobiography” (2022), directed by Makbul Mubarak. Beyond the movie’s plot, the title held special significance for our meeting. We arranged to meet on 17 January 2023 at the Epicentrum Building in Rasuna Said area. Taking my fiancée, Gracia Wynne Sutedja, with me, we first met up with our friend Simon Kemper at a nearby café before heading to the cinema together. During our walk, Prof. Carey, as I always called him since we first met, mentioned his plans to write an autobiography about his experiences in the field of Indonesian history studies. My curiosity was piqued, for I had always found Prof. Carey’s literary oeuvre, woven with captivating personal narratives, to be a true delight. Intrigued by the idea, I looked forward to reading it. Upon reaching the cinema, we ran into former Minister of Education, Wardiman Djojonegoro (in office 1993–98), who stopped by to chat with Prof. Carey. Interestingly, their conversation revolved around the topic of autobiographies. It turned out that Pak Wardiman was also contemplating writing about his life.
The keyword “autobiography” resounded with a delightful synchronicity throughout the evening. It reverberated thrice: within the captivating film title, during my exchange with Prof. Carey, and in the candid discussion between Prof. Carey and Pak Wardiman. The coincidences left me with a sense of inspiration, and I could not help but contemplate my own journey and the possibility of penning a writing piece one day. The topic at thought was to be a personal account of my encounter with Prof. Carey. And I intended it to be part of my private collection. As a person who works closely with history, I understood the rarity of capturing the nuances and interactions that shape our lives, it is often hidden amidst the annals of history. As time went on, Prof. Carey himself had already completed writing a portion of his autobiography in April 2023, which he referred to as his spiritual autobiography. Fortunately, I had the privilege of glimpsing the early manuscripts he prepared for a larger publication.
As for my own record-keeping, I procrastinated for too long and only started writing my own notes in June 2023. Initially, I contemplated the theme that would best represent my account of Peter Carey. Eventually, it crystallized into the theme of “inspiration”. Two historians have had the most profound academic influence on me, one being the late Onghokham (1933–2007), and the other being Prof. Carey. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to meet Ong. When he passed away, I was still in primary school; how could I have known him intellectually at that time? Thankfully, it is a different story with Prof. Carey.
My first encounter with Prof. Carey is likely not remembered by him. Several months after being accepted into the history program at the University of Indonesia, I attended the International Conference on Nusantara Studies in November 2016. Accompanied by a young lecturer from my department, Ghamal Satya Muhammad, I was introduced to the esteemed Indonesian studies professor at Leiden, Prof. Bernard “Ben” Arps. My main purpose for attending was actually to listen to lectures from our own distinguished professors, Prof. Susanto Zuhdi and Prof. Agus Aris Munandar. However, the opportunity to meet important international researchers was too compelling to pass up. Kindly, Pak Ben invited me to chat with two other keynote speakers at the conference, Prof. Stephen Oppenheimer and Prof. Carey. That was the first time I met my mentor.
The most vivid impression from our initial interaction was how Prof. Carey treated everyone, regardless of their background, with equal attention and respect. During one of his lecture sessions, Prof. Carey was asked about the Freemason Order membership status of some colonial British officials — a question entirely unrelated to his presentation on the Java War (1825–30). Nevertheless, he responded graciously. Sitting beside Pak Ben and Prof. Oppenheimer, I overheard one of them say, “Peter handles an audience like this with great composure. I am impressed”. It was a moment that left a lasting impression on me, witnessing how Prof. Carey’s humility and warmth radiated in his dealings with others. This encounter fuelled my admiration for the man I was fortunate to call my mentor. It taught me that genuine kindness and respect transcend academic achievements.
Unfortunately, throughout my studies at the University of Indonesia, I never had the chance to meet Prof. Carey again in the classroom, despite him being a visiting/adjunct professor at our faculty during that time. However, fate had a different plan, as a significant encounter occurred just before my graduation. As we entered our third year, students were required to plan their final projects. The topics had to be chosen, and the first stage of research, the heuristic or source-finding phase, had to begin. I owe a great debt of gratitude to Mbak Dwi “Erry” Mulyatari, who was instrumental in helping me find my topic. In 2017, Mbak Erry assigned me and my group to study the downfall of the Dutch East Indies. The focal point of our research was Alidius Tjarda van Starkenborgh (in office 1936–42), the Governor-General during that period, who eventually became the main subject of my undergraduate thesis.
Within the internal faculty, there were not many instructors specialising in the colonial administration of the Dutch East Indies (1816–1942). Perhaps, the patriarch of this topic was Onghokham, who had since passed away. The only advisor that came to mind at the time was Mas Bondan Kanumoyoso, whose expertise lay in the societal history during the Dutch East India Company (VOC) era (1602–1799) — alongside Mbak Erry herself, who was well-versed in the end of the colonial era, the Japanese occupation, and the revolution. When I approached Mas Bondan, he offered a brilliant suggestion, “Why don’t you try reaching out to Prof. Peter Carey? He possesses extensive knowledge of colonial administration. And don’t forget about Bu Mona Lohanda (1947–2021), who is well-versed in the archives from that period”.
Following Mas Bondan’s suggestion, I mustered the courage to request Prof. Carey’s contact information from the department secretary. I sent a WhatsApp message around March 2019, along with my research proposal, and to my surprise, the response came swiftly. Prof. Carey expressed an interest in learning more about my research and the extent of my investigative progress. He invited me for our first thesis guidance session at Café Monolog, Plaza Senayan. I set out from my university in Depok, commuting via the commuter train and MRT (underground train) until I reached Plaza Senayan after walking a few hundred meters from Senayan MRT station. I arrived an hour early, feeling nervous and slightly intimidated. As a final-year student, I felt somewhat unprepared to discuss my research with my academic advisor. My heart pounded with anxiety as I awaited Prof. Carey’s arrival. When he finally appeared, my fear instantly subsided. Prof. Carey exuded a warm and approachable aura. He kindly inquired about my research, having carefully read my proposal beforehand. The introductory meeting was succinct, and we delved straight into the heart of the matter — dissecting the proposal. Despite receiving fundamental feedback from Prof. Carey, he never conveyed it in a dominating manner. Throughout our discussions, he always sought my thoughts on the issues we explored. The experience was enlightening, and I came to appreciate Prof. Carey’s mentorship approach. He encouraged open dialogue, treating me as an equal partner in the academic pursuit. The guidance sessions that followed were no different — a collaborative effort to refine my research and develop my critical thinking skills.
With this pattern, we met almost every two weeks for approximately six months. The meeting place remained the same, Café Monolog at Plaza Senayan. The café’s baristas became familiar with my face and the purpose of my visits. In short, we went through various revisions and restructuring of the writing. Besides Prof. Carey, I was also guided by my internal supervisor from the program, Mas Didik Pradjoko, whose focus was on maritime history, particularly in the Eastern Indonesia region. I was incredibly fortunate; both my internal and external supervisors were exceptionally kind and warm individuals. Mas Didik focused on technical guidance, while Prof. Carey delved deep into the substance of the work. In December 2019, when the narrative of Governor-General Tjarda’s reign had undergone substantial testing, I submitted my thesis for examination to Mas Didik. Finally, the defence session was held. From the time I handed in the “final” manuscript to the program until the actual defence day, I discovered quite a few new archives and information about Tjarda. I believe the habit of continuously exploring sources and information was successfully instilled in me by Prof. Carey. On one hand, this had positive effects, but on the other, it made me increasingly unsatisfied with the final manuscript I had submitted. It was in the midst of this dissatisfaction that my undergraduate thesis defence took place.
In January 2020, after Prof. Carey returned from his health check-up abroad, the defence was held at Building 3 of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Indonesia in Depok. Before entering the defence room, I sought Prof. Carey’s pangestu — the Javanese term for “blessing”. The examination board consisted of two examiners, Mbak Linda Sunarti and Mbak Erry, as well as my internal supervisor, Mas Didik. They all posed critical questions and provided invaluable feedback. To my surprise, I passed the defence with minor revision suggestions. What was even more surprising was the perfect grade bestowed upon me.
A few days after receiving the news of my grade, I immediately contacted Prof. Carey. The good news was warmly welcomed with a kind response. I offered to take him to lunch, once again at Plaza Senayan, as a token of gratitude for all the academic and non-academic assistance provided by the distinguished historian. This lunch meeting turned out to be one that changed my life. Graduating as a history scholar did not automatically bring about an overwhelming sense of celebration. Instead, it brought about an immense fear of everything — career, future, and financial stability. Amidst the conversation over dendeng balado, asam-asam ikan, and gado-gado, Prof. Carey addressed all those fears. He offered me a research assistant position. At that time, Prof. Carey was preparing for a publishing project — a trilogy of history books about the Greater Madiun area in East Java. He needed a research assistant to help with editing, translating, and verifying translations from Dutch and Javanese sources. Fortunately, my own research closely involved using those same sources. Although I had never delved into local history research myself, Prof. Carey was willing to guide me in this “less-travelled” path. It became my first job after graduation.
Being offered this position was a turning point in my life. Prof. Carey’s faith in my capabilities and his mentorship provided me with newfound confidence in embarking on this new journey. Working alongside him on the trilogy was both an honour and a privilege. I will save the story of my work for another writing. However, one thing is certain: this job helped me stay mentally sound amid the social confinement caused by the pandemic throughout 2020 to 2022. Through this inaugural work, I also learned the admirable research work ethic of a world-class historian like Prof. Carey. The materials I sent in one morning will likely be checked within a day or two. I am also amazed by the dedication he puts into his research work. Often, emails from him arrive late at night. Yet, what is even more astonishing is Prof. Carey’s kindness in allowing me to “check and do the work at times suitable [for me]”. Working under Prof. Carey never brought about pressure; instead, it offered a plethora of valuable lessons to be learned.
Trivia
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there”. This quote by L.P. Hartley in The Go-Between (1953) is one I have repeatedly used to explain the nature of history. It serves as the framework we must employ when looking at history. The person who has been my primary inspiration in viewing history through this lens is my undergraduate thesis supervisor, Peter Carey. He has an intriguing approach to guide his students in delving into history. “It is best to create a new persona within the historical realm you are studying, so that you can truly understand the spirit of that era”, he advised me. It is fascinating to observe that, nonetheless, history remains “there,” not “here.” No matter how close we are to the subject of study, history remains distant. Even when standing at the exact location where historical events occurred, we are still distant in terms of time. This principle has always deterred me from using present-day standards to judge the past.
