Prominent Chinese During the Rise of a Colonial City: Medan 1890-1942

Abstract

Prominent Chinese During the Rise of a Colonial City Medan 1890-1942 This book about the social history of Medan studies the role of the most important Chinese entrepreneurs during the development of the city from a small settlement to an important financial and economic center. Essential for the development of the city was the rapid growth in the number of tobacco and later rubber and palm oil plantations from 1863 in the Deli district around Medan. However, the harsh labor regime gave rise to countless abuses, so that the plantation industry can be labelled as a conflict society. From 1890, the city of Medan grew rapidly, and in contrast to the situation on the plantations, urban development was characterized by a relatively harmonious atmosphere. The driving forces behind this urban development were the European planters, the Sultan of Deli and the Chinese entrepreneurs. Among these Chinese businessmen, nine people distinguished themselves by playing a crucial role in the period 1890-1942. Partly due to the role of the Chinese elite, the conflict society of the plantations turned out not to apply to the city of Medan. In 1930, the Chinese community represented around 30% of the population. The central question in this study is: What was the role of the Chinese elite in this multi-ethnic society between 1890 and 1942? How were the tensions inherent in colonial society limited and controlled in the city, and what role did the Chinese elite play in this? How did they earn their money and how did they spend it? What was their role with regard to politics, their relationship with the mother country of China, education, health care and culture? As this book is a city history as well as a study about a Chinese community, attention is also paid to studies on other colonial cities in the Dutch East Indies as well as socio-economic- political studies about Chinese communities on Java and Singapore. In the first chapter the development of the East Coast of Sumatra as an administrative unit and the history of the large agricultural companies with tobacco, rubber, tea and palm oil plantations and the power relations between the planters and coolies on the plantations are discussed. In chapter 2 the development of Medan is described from a small village to a financial and economic centre of the district. Chapter 3 deals with Chinese business in Medan where attention is paid to the monopoly system, opium, alcohol, games of chance, pawnshops and salt as well as the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. In the central chapter 4 the Chinese people are introduced who have made an important contribution to the development of Medan. Chapter 5 pays attention to the Chinese family and the position of the Chinese woman, as well as to religious, educational and health institutions, social and cultural organizations, as well as sports and other forms of relaxation. The last chapter 6 describes the political developments in the Dutch East Indies, Chinese nationalism and local politics in Medan. Finally, the role of the press is highlighted, as well as mutual perceptions of the Dutch and Chinese. The prominent Chinese entrepreneurs wanted economic and political stability for their businesses, not conflict. Almost all of them started without capital, became successful in business and held important social and political positions. This career often went hand in hand with philanthropy. In Medan, the different ethnic groups were evidently separated, but at the same time they lived together in harmony. The nine prominent Chinese people played an important role in this.