Bukit Duri

Slipping through time, we find ourselves in 1872 Batavia. Imagine a relentless downpour lashing the city for days. The Ciliwung River, usually a gentle presence, swells into a raging torrent. Homes in Kampung Kramat are submerged, forcing residents to flee. Bidara Cina disappears beneath the murky water. Floodwaters creep into Melajoe Besar, Melajoe Ketjil, Kebon Manggis, even reaching Bukit Duri and Matraman. This historic flood of 1872 left a mark on Bukit Duri, a neighborhood whose name itself hints at its past. “Bukit Duri,” meaning “Thorn Hill,” suggests a slightly elevated area, offering some protection from the Ciliwung’s wrath. But the lower-lying parts of Bukit Duri weren’t spared the river’s fury. Situated on the west bank of the Ciliwung, across from the formidable Fort Meester Cornelis, Bukit Duri found itself in the path of the overflowing river. While the prison at Meester Cornelis remained dry, the western side, where Bukit Duri lay, bore the brunt of the flood. Interestingly, even with the deluge, there’s no record of the Meester Cornelis train station in Bukit Duri being flooded. This detail, gleaned from old newspaper reports, paints a picture of a resilient community, even in the face of natural disaster. Bukit Duri’s history is intertwined with that of Meester Cornelis, a key figure in Batavia’s past. The area southeast of the city, now Jatinegara, was named after him. This naming convention, using personal names for areas, was common, as seen with Struiswijk (Salemba), Rustenburg (Tjawang), and Pluit (from Flujt). Indigenous names like Tji (Tjipinang), Babakan, Paroeng, and Lebak reflected the area’s Sundanese roots. And community names like Kampung Bali, Kampung Djawa, and Kampung Malajoe spoke to the diverse population drawn to the area by Meester Cornelis and the nearby fort. Bukit Duri emerged as a distinct village sometime between 1824 and 1866. It’s nestled between Kampung Djawa and Kampung Malajoe Ketjil on the west bank of the Ciliwung. The name, “Thorn Hill,” isn’t arbitrary. From Kampung Tanah Rendah to the north, Bukit Duri appears elevated. Even from the east bank of the river, the land seems to rise towards Bukit Duri. This gentle rise gave the village its name and, perhaps, a sense of security against the river’s unpredictable nature. Today, when you stand in Bukit Duri, remember the 1872 flood, a testament to the area’s vulnerability and its resilience. Recall the village’s unique position by the river and its close ties to Meester Cornelis. Bukit Duri’s story, etched in history, whispers through time.