UNAIR NEWS – A lecturer of the Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) Dr Sarkawi B Husain SS MHum was a speaker in an online discussion entitled “The History of the Doctors’ Movement in Indonesia.” The discussion was held by the Development Study Club on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

The discussion also presented Hans Pols, a professor at the University of Sydney and author of Merawat Bangsa: Sejarah Pergerakan Para Dokter Indonesia (Caring for the Nation: The History of the Indonesian Doctors’ Movement) published by Kompas in 2018.

On that occasion, Sarkawi conveyed an important notion contained in Hans Pols’ book. According to him, the book is able to explain the unique position of doctors so that they can diagnose the pathology of colonialism.

“They are able to identify the nature and pressures inherent in the process of social revolution. Doctors are also able to prescribe terrabiotic interventions against social rules that are not right,” he explained.

Furthermore, he explained that medical science gave birth to a new understanding among the natives (Bumiputeras). It is marked by the open mind of the native people, who have begun to open broad insights, discourses, and awareness of colonial and non-colonial nations.

“Professor Hans not only presents data on the important role of Indonesian doctors but also breaks the fact that doctors in the colonial era became a tool of colonialism,” said Sarkawi.

“On the contrary, medical science has inspired Indonesian doctors to criticize the colonial government because of the high prevalence of indigenous diseases and inadequate colonial treatment standards,” he concluded. (*)

Author: Rafli Noer Khairam

Editor: Binti Q. Masruroh