Totok is an Indonesian term of Javanese origin, used in Indonesia to refer to recent migrants of Arab Indonesians, Chinese, or European origins.[Charles A. Coppel, "Diaspora and hybridity: Peranakan Chinese culture in Indonesia", in Routledge Handbook of the Chinese Diaspora, edited by Chee-Beng Tan, pp. 346-347][Willems, Wim "Tjalie Robinson; Biografie van een Indo-schrijver" Chapter: Een Totok als vader (Publisher: Bert Bakker, 2008) p. 45 .]
When more pure-blooded Arabs, Chinese and Dutchmen were born in the East Indies, the term gained significance in describing those of exclusive or almost exclusive foreign ancestry.
'Peranakan' is the antonym of 'Totok', the former meaning simply 'descendants' (of mixed roots), and the latter meaning 'pure'.[Tan, Mely G. (2008) (in English and Indonesian), Etnis Tionghoa di Indonesia: Kumpulan Tulisan Ethnic (Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, 2008) p. 1]
Chinese were divided into Thanh people (like Totok) and Minh Huong (mixed Chinese Vietnamese like Peranakan) in 1829 by Emperor Minh Mang of the Nguyen dynasty.
Notable Dutch Totoks and descendants
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(Semarang, Java, 1922), founder of the North Sea Jazz festival
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Albert Alberts (1911–1995), award winning author, journalist
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Beb Bakhuys (1909–1982), football player and manager
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Ben Bot (born in Batavia) (b. 1937), minister
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Hans van den Broek (b. 1936), minister
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Jeroen Brouwers (1940-2022), author
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Conrad Busken Huet (1826–1886), newspaper editor on Java (1868–1876)
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Louis Couperus (1863–1923), childhood in Batavia, Java (1871–1877), author of The Hidden Force (1900)
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P. A. Daum (1850–1898), newspaperman, author
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Johan Fabricius (1899–1981), author of De Scheepsjongens van Bontekoe (1923)
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Anthony Fokker (Blitar, Java, 1890–1939), aviation pioneer
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Hella Haasse (Batavia, Java, 1918–2011), award winning author
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Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema (Surabaya, Java, 1917–2007), decorated World War II hero
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W. R. van Hoëvell (1812–1879), church minister of Batavia, political activist (1838–1848)
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Xaviera Hollander (b. 1943), author
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Conrad Helfrich (1886–1962), lieutenant-admiral of the Royal Netherlands Navy
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Rudy Kousbroek (1929–2010), author
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Liesbeth List (b. 1941), singer
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Multatuli (1820–1887), resident on Ambon and Java (1838–1858), iconic author
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, artist, singer
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Willem Oltmans (1925–2004), journalist, author
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Helga Ruebsamen (1934–2016), author
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F. Springer (1932–2011), author
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Bram van der Stok (Plaju, Sumatra, 1915–1993), decorated World War II hero
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Madelon Szekely-Lulofs (Surabaya, 1899–1958) author of Rubber(1931)
[ Rubber by Madelon Szekely-Lulofs on DBNL website.] and Koelie (1931)[ Koelie by Madelon Szekely-Lulofs on DBNL website.]
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Peter Tazelaar (Bukittingi, Sumatra, 1922–1993), decorated World War II hero
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Edgar Vos (Makassar, 1931-2010), fashion designer
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Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (1876–1917), known as Mata Hari, exotic dancer, spy
See also
Citations
Bibliography
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Bosman, Ulbe and Raben, Remco. De oude Indische wereld 1500–1920. (Bert Bakker, Amsterdam 2003)
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Sastrowardoyo, Subagio Sastra Hindia Belanda dan kita (Publisher: PT Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, 1990) p. 21
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Taylor, Jean Gelman. The Social World of Batavia: European and Eurasian in Dutch Asia (Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1983).
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Taylor, Jean Gelman. Indonesia: Peoples and Histories (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2003).
External links
