Aw Tjoei Lan

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Aw Tjoei Lan
Born(1889-02-17)February 17, 1889
DiedDecember 19, 1965(1965-12-19) (aged 76)
Djakarta
NationalityIndonesian
Other namesNjonja Kapitein Lie Tjian Tjoen
OccupationSocial activist, philanthropist, community leader
Years active1910s-1960s
Known forWomen's rights activist, founder of
Spouse(s) (husband)
Parent(s) (father)
Tan An Nio (mother)
RelativesLie Tjoe Hong, Majoor der Chinezen (father-in-law)
Hok Hoei Kan (brother-in-law)
Tan Tjin Kie, Majoor-titulair der Chinezen (cousin)

Aw Tjoei Lan, better known as Njonja Kapitein Lie Tjian Tjoen, sometimes spelt Auw Tjoei Lan, (born on February 17, 1889 – died on December 19, 1965) was a Chinese-Indonesian philanthropist, community leader, social activist and founder of the charity organization '' (EYD: 'Hati Suci').[1][2][3][4][5] Through her foundation, she fought against human trafficking and prostitution, and promoted education among orphans, in particular young girls.[1][2]

Early life[]

Aw Tjoei Lan was born in Majalengka, Dutch East Indies into the 'Cabang Atas' or Chinese gentry of Java.[6] Her father, , was the Luitenant der Chinezen of Majalengka, serving as head of the Chinese civil bureaucracy in the district from 1886 until 1904.[6] Her mother, Tan An Nio, was a first cousin of the well-known Tan Tjin Kie, Majoor-titulair der Chinezen, and came from an old landowning and bureaucratic clan, the Tan family of Cirebon.[6]

Like many in her privileged background, Aw benefited from a Dutch education as her father invited a Dutch tutor from Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies, to teach her and her siblings.[4][5] She subsequently attended a Dutch school in Buitenzorg, where she lodged at the house of a Dutch minister, a certain Rev. van Walsum.[4][5] Aw also had an early exposure to philanthropy since her father was active in patronizing social causes in Majalengka.[4][5]

Marriage and social activism[]

Aw Tjoein Lan moved to Batavia upon her marriage, on March 2, 1907, to the bureaucrat , son of Lie Tjoe Hong, the 3rd Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[3][6][5] Through her husband, Aw was also a sister-in-law of the late colonial statesman Hok Hoei Kan (whose wife was a sister of Kapitein Lie Tjian Tjoen).[6]

It was through van Walsum that Aw met Dr. Zigman in Batavia.[7] Together with D. van Hindeloopen Labberton and Soetan Temanggoeng, Dr. Zigman invited Aw to co-found and manage a new organization in 1912, called Ati Soetji, aimed at fighting the trafficking in Chinese women and children for prostitution and menial labor, and at giving them an education instead.[7][3][5] Although met with initial resistance from various underworld organizations and entrenched interests, Aw persevered.[3] She used her family's connections with the Dutch and Chinese colonial authorities, acquiring the patronage of the Governor-General, Johan Paul, Count of Limburg-Stirum and his wife, as well as the support of Khouw Kim An, 5th Majoor der Chinezen of Batavia.[4][5]

Ati Soetji opened its first facility for girls, Tehuis voor Chineesche Meisjes ('Home for young Chinese women'), on October 17, 1917 at rented premises, followed in 1925 by a similar facility for young boys.[4][5] In 1929, the foundation acquired its current headquarters in Kampung Bali, Tanah Abang, now in Central Jakarta.[4][5] By the late 1930s, Ati Soetji had two orphanages, a refuge for former prostitutes, a facility for young women from poor families, a school and a dressmaking school.[4][5]

On the recommendation of Majoor Khouw Kim An, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands made Aw a Ridder in the Order of Orange-Nassau in September 1935.[3][5] The award was granted to Aw personally by the Dutch prime minister, Hendrikus Colijn, on behalf of the queen.[5]

In February 1937, representing the Dutch East Indies, Aw participated in the proceedings of the League of Nations in Bandung, West Java.[3][5] In her speech, she advocated education for impoverished young women and girls to help them attain personal and professional independence as a safeguard against human trafficking.[3][5] She also encouraged the rehabilitation of 'fallen women'.[3][5]

The Japanese occupation of Indonesia from 1942 until 1945 during the Second World War marked a low point for both Ati Soetji and Aw herself.[4][5] Together with other leaders of the colonial government, Aw's husband, Kapitein Lie Tjian Tjoen, was put in a concentration camp.[4][5] Their family house at Jalan Kramat Raya 168, which at the time housed Ati Soetji's orphan boys, was confiscated by the Japanese.[5] Aw arranged alternative lodgings for her charges, and ensured that the foundation's young women and girls were not taken by the Japanese as 'comfort women'.[4][5] She rebuilt Ati Soetji's operations at the end of the war, thus ensuring the organization's survival to this day.[4][5]

Aged 76, Aw Tjoei Lan died on September 19, 1965 in Djakarta, Indonesia.[1][2] Her body lay in state at the headquarters of Ati Soetji before her burial at Petamburan.[1][2][5]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d A. Bobby Pr (2014). Ny. Lie Tjian Tjoen: mendahului sang waktu [English: 'Ny. Lie Tjian Tjoen: ahead of her Time'] (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Penerbit Buku Kompas. ISBN 9789797098728. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Suryadinata, Leo (2015). Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches (4th ed.). Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 9789814620505. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Mukthi, M. F. (April 21, 2010). "Auw Tjoei Lan, Musuh Para Mucikari". Historia - Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama di Indonesia. Historia. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l Mukthi, M. F. (April 21, 2010). "Auw Tjoei Lan, Pelindung Kebajikan". Historia - Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama di Indonesia. Historia. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Lie, Ravando (January 8, 2019). "Hati Suci Nyonya Lie Tjian Tjoen Selamatkan Perempuan & Anak Yatim". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Tirto. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Haryono, Steve (2017). Perkawinan Strategis: Hubungan Keluarga Antara Opsir-opsir Tionghoa Dan 'Cabang Atas' Di Jawa Pada Abad Ke-19 Dan 20. Utrecht: Steve Haryono. ISBN 9789090302492. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Chambert-Loir, Henri; Ambary, Hasan Muarif (1999). Panggung sejarah: persembahan kepada Prof. Dr. Denys Lombard (in Indonesian). Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia. ISBN 9789794613177. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
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