Tragic stories come in various forms during the colonialism era and it seems that unfortunate love stories are one of them. On 1896, a story was published based on the true story of a mistress and her tragic love affair. A story written by Gijsbert Francis.
The love affair was appointed to a woman known as ‘Nyai Dasima’. The term ‘Nyai’ in this case, defined what Dasima was, a mistress. She was said to be very pretty and rich, but these proved to be more harmful than it was beneficial. This beautiful lady from Bogor was first married to an english man named Edward William, who’s said to be the right-hand man of Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. Her relationship with Edward had only resulted on being disowned by her parents who felt that she had betrayed god as well as her heritage by marrying the man. She also could not be well-accepted in the European society that judged her poorly on the assumption that Edward had only desired her for her body.
As a result, she was lost and fragile. Marrying Edward had only cost her her identity. Then came Samiun from Kwitang, whom she thought was her life saviour. Legend has it that he instantly captured her love with the help of supernatural forces. But her love for her was completely staged. He only married her for her money, which he promised his first wife to pay for their debts. Dasima’s need for protection and affection from Samiun turned tragically with her being robbed dry and killed by her own husband with the help of his hitman. Her body was then thrown to the Ciliwung river.
To this day, the legend has continued to exist as part of our lives. Its tragic ends have reflected on the significance of our heritage in the past and to some extent, on the present day. It’s a complicated experience to be involved intimately with people of different ethnicity. Yet, as time moved on, it also seems to be something that has improved our humanity.
References:
http://www.jakarta.go.id/web/encyclopedia/detail/338/Nyai-Dasima
https://indocropcircles.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/legenda-nyai-dasima/
