Road Development in Northern Boyolali and Its Colonial Footprint[i]

Emperor Susuhunan Pakubuwono X and Queen Ratu Hemas, along with the Governor and his wife, were inaugurating the Kali Serang Bridge in Wonosegoro on 12th of November 1935. (Source: sastra.org)

On 19th of November 2021, I decided to return home after spending three weeks in Semarang City. My home is located in the northwesternmost corner of Boyolali Regency, about an hour and a quarter away from the Boyolali administrative center. Specifically, it is in Bandung Village, Wonosegoro Subdistrict.

Before continuing, let me share a bit about my area, Wonosegoro Subdistrict. Along with other subdistricts such as Juwangi, Kemusu, and Selo, Wonosegoro is one of the subdistricts with the highest poverty rates in Boyolali.[ii] Unfortunately, the issue of poverty almost always goes hand in hand with drought, which plagues the community every dry season. As in Bogor Hamlet, Bojong Village, residents’ wells dry up when it hasn’t rained for approximately two months. Most of the residents, who work as peasants, farmers, and cultivators of Perhutani land, are forced to rely on murky river water for their daily needs.[iii]

As a resident of Wonosegoro, I often feel frustrated. I’ve been mocked while attending school in Boyolali City. The place where I grew up was associated with pejorative remarks by my schoolmates.

Once, someone said, “The water source must be nearby!” Another joked, “In Wonosegoro, you can probably find animals like giraffes, jaguars, and elephants!” Or even, “Did you take a bath before coming to school?”

Such remarks continued even when I was in college. Some classmates mocked the town I came from. This time, the ridicule stemmed from the testimony of a campaign team member for Prabowo-Sandiaga during the 2019 presidential election dispute hearing in June. The team member stated that the road to Juwangi (which also passes through Wonosegoro) was unpaved and difficult to traverse.

Moreover, Prabowo himself once remarked that people with a “Boyolali look” would find it hard to access luxury hotels. If the general “Boyolali look” was mocked like that, what about us, the people living in Wonosegoro, the poorest subdistrict in Boyolali?

Visually, the stark contrast between southern and northern Boyolali can be compared to two music video clips. The first video clip is titled *“Indraloka Boyolali” *by Ersruboy. In this video, Boyolali is only represented by its southern region. In other words, the video lacks honesty.

The video creator portrays Boyolali as a charming small town, complete with reog performances from Selo Subdistrict. The video also showcases the grandeur of the Arjuna Wijaya Statue in the heart of Boyolali City and the iconic Lembu Suro Building in Alun-Alun Kidul. The musicians featured in the video wear trendy and eccentric fashion, donning hip-hop caps, bomber jackets, and graphic T-shirts.

The second music video, titled *“Lagu Juwangi” by Tulus Maholtra, contrasts sharply with Indraloka Boyolali*. It presents the face of Juwangi Subdistrict (northern Boyolali) in an honest and unvarnished manner. The video highlights old buildings iconic to northern Boyolali, such as Telawa Station and the Loji Papak Building. Honesty is further reflected in scenes capturing the severely damaged condition of the Wonosegoro-Juwangi road.

The fashion depicted in the video is modest and unpretentious. For instance, the attire of motorcycle riders passing by the railroad tracks includes plain T-shirts, track pants, mismatched plain shirts and headscarves, and shirts with simple patterns. While this may invite criticism, I feel that the second video is more honest and representative of the existing reality. In other words, this video is both aspirational and representative.

Returning to the topic, as frustrating as it may be, Prabowo’s remark might reflect the stark contrasts and poverty in Boyolali. Amid the buzz of development and the slogan “Boyolali Pro-Investment,” many residents, particularly in northern Boyolali, remain trapped in the cycle of poverty. This reality urgently requires serious government intervention to address the issue.

According to Hendrarto Setyo Wibowo, the former Head of the Boyolali Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), the local government has undertaken several strategic measures to alleviate poverty. These include improving and constructing road infrastructure to facilitate economic access in northern Boyolali.[iv]

Let us return to my journey home from Semarang City a few days ago. Along the way, I noticed that the road in Karangjati-Ketoyan Village (part of the Karanggede-Juwangi highway) had been excavated. On its southern side stood a signboard reading: “Peningkatan Jalan Karanggede-Juwangi” (Improvement of the Karanggede-Juwangi Road). In my heart, I felt grateful. Road infrastructure development was underway. Once completed, the Karanggede-Juwangi road would be smooth, enhancing the mobility of residents.

Moreover, a well-constructed road would ease the distribution of agricultural produce, such as rice, which reached a harvest yield of 18,933 tons in 2020, corn with a yield of 8,986 tons, and cassava producing 2,189 tons during the same year.[v] Beyond economic access, the road would also impact health and education. Residents requiring medical attention could be quickly delivered to the capital regency’s hospital for better treatment.

In fact, there is a historical context behind the construction of this road. The development of the Karanggede-Juwangi road can be traced back to the era of the Dutch East Indies or colonial times. As a history student, I feel compelled to contribute a historical perspective on the region where I grew up, even if only a small fragment. So, stay tuned and follow this writing to its conclusion.

On 22nd of October 1935, the newspaper De Locomotief reported that the inauguration of the Kali Serang Bridge was scheduled to take place on 4th of November 1935. Pakubuwono X, the Sultan of Surakarta, also attended the opening of the Kali Serang Bridge.[vi] Pakubuwono X was scheduled to visit his retreat villa in Pracimoharjo, Paras on 3rd of November, before heading to Wonosegoro to attend the inauguration of the Kali Serang Bridge.[vii]

However, it seems that the opening of the Kali Serang Bridge did not go as planned. The bridge’s inauguration was finally held solemnly on 12th of November 1935. The rulers of Surakarta, Pakubuwono X and Mangkunegoro VII, attended the ceremony. In addition, government officials and representatives from the teak forest companies were present. According to media reports, the Kali Serang Bridge was considered the missing link along the Karanggede-Wonosegoro road.[viii]

The reporter wrote that the Kali Serang Bridge played an important role by opening up economic access to a highly isolated region. The bridge also completed a series of interregional roads connecting Purwodadi with Salatiga. On the other hand, Pakubuwono X’s cassava company in Repaking Village was closely linked to the bridge’s construction. Needless to say, the opening of the bridge generated significant public interest.[ix]

On 3rd of April 1936, the newspaper Algemeen Handelsblad reported that road construction was once again planned to connect Wonosegoro with Dadapayam. The reporter stated that the prosperity of the Wonosegoro region had significantly improved thanks to the Kali Serang Bridge. By that time, Wonosegoro was already connected to Purwodadi through the Telawa (Juwangi)-Godong road. Therefore, the connecting road between Dadapayam and Wonosegoro would be extremely important once it was completed.[x]

By reflecting on the road development in the northern Boyolali region during the colonial era, I hope that readers can take away at least two lessons: First, the Karanggede-Wonosegoro-Juwangi road played a strategic role in connecting one region to another (such as Salatiga to Purwodadi) in the past. Second, road access is crucial for improving the mobility and economy of the community.

When the mobility and economic activity of a community are high, prosperity can be achieved. Even today, with the existence of the Juwangi-Godong road, for example, I can visit my partner in Randublatung, Blora Regency. However, one question remains: What percentage of the improved access contributes to the ongoing loss of forests? Thank you.

Endnote

[i] This text is the English version of “Cerita Singkat tentang Jejak Kolonial Pembangunan di Boyolali Utara”

[ii] Irawan Sapto Adhi, Kemiskinan di Boyolali: 4 Kecamatan Masuk Prioritas Penanggulangan Masalah Kemiskinan, Solopos.com: https://www.solopos.com/kemiskinan-di-boyolali-4-kecamatan-masuk-prioritas-penanggulangan-masalah-kemiskinan-547882 (accessed on 22nd November 2021)

[iii] Khoirul Huda, Air Bersih bagi Warga Terdampak Kekeringan di Wonosegoro, ACTnews: https://news.act.id/berita/air-bersih-bagi-warga-terdampak-kekeringan-di-wonosegoro (accessed on 22nd of November 2021)

[iv] Haris Effendi, 50 Desa di Boyolali Dapat Tanda Merah, Ini Sebabnya, Metrojateng.com: https://metrojateng.com/50-desa-di-boyolali-dapat-tanda-merah-ini-sebabnya/ (accessed on 22 November 2021)

[v] BPS Kabupaten Boyolali, Statistik Kecamatan Wonosegoro, (Boyolali: BPS Kabupaten Boyolali, 2020), p. 10

[vi] De Locomotief, “Kali Serang-brug”, 22nd of October 1935

[vii] De Locomotief, “Z.V.H. de Soesoehoenan naar Paras”, 30th of October 1935

[viii] De Locomotief, “Brug over de Kali Serang”, 12th of November 1935

[ix] Ibid.

[x] Algemeen Handelsblad, “Salatiga-Dadapajam”, 3rd of April 1936