28 Furthermore, while returning to Indonesia, he takes care of sick people
lovingly without viewing their backgrounds. Through his profession as a doctor, Bhisma helps everyone who needs his cure. He is willing to work in a small clinic
in Tanjung Priok, Jakarta although he has graduated from Leipzig. “I think I’m
going to help out at a clinic in Tanjung Priok. My Gerwani Gerakan Wanita Indonesia
, The Indonesian Women’s Movement friends have asked me to go there, and I can do two things at one,
be both doctor and researcher” p. 220. Bhisma is always ready to help someone else in all situations. Therefore, he is a
caring person.
3. Smart
Bhisma is considered as a smart person proven by some direct comments from those people living with him
. It is seen when he follows his parents’ friend, Thomas Lipasaly to move from Indonesia to Leiden for the better education.
Thomas Lipasaly takes Bhisma to Christelijk Lyceum, a good and prestigious school. As a student, Bhisma is always trying to do his best. In the first week of
his study, he feels that he is a fool in all of subjects including in science exact science
or some foreign languages field. However, he never gives up to his last effort. His Dutch
friends are amazed at him, “he the reigning king of numbers. He remained the champion of maths until the day he graduated” p. 247. Because of
his achievement, Bhisma continues his study in Karl Marx University, Germany pp. 241-248.
As a political prisoner tapol , every Bhisma’s friend in Buru has different and
unforgettable experience with him. One of them is Rukmanda, Bhisma’s friend,
29 who gives Bhisma magic power. When Amba, Samuel, and Zulfikar come to
Rukmanda’s house, Rukmanda tells his unforgettable experience with Bhisma as a political prisoner tapol. Rukmanda remembers the situation when there is a
snake on his feet. He feels that he is going to die. Suddenly, he is surprised by Bhisma’s action who chopped the snake’s head pp. 410-411.
Since then, Rukmanda realizes that Bhisma is different from someone else. Therefore,
Rukmanda says to Amba, “I first realized that Bhisma’s essence was that kind of wisdom, at once impulsive and matured”. Rukmanda adds, “Everyone
came to understand this quiet and strange empathy of Bhisma” p. 412.
Rukmanda tells the situation when Bhisma sees many political prisoners being tortured. Rukmanda looks at Bhisma who standing, finding such a strange on him.
4. Responsible
In their first encounter, Bhisma and Amba spend their beautiful night by walking around the hospital. Beneath the Banyan tree, Bhisma states that he is a
responsible person. He says to Amba, “I know something about responsibility, just don’t ask me about politics” p. 184. He says the same utterance not only
once but also when Bhisma talking to another friend, Isa in Bumi Tarung. It is a statement that Amba always remembers. In addition, Bhisma really shows his
responsibility as a doctor. Some nurses tell Amba that Bhisma likes to suddenly leaves without permission
, “One or two days you don’t see him, suddenly he appears the next morning”. “Well, he brings in those new patients, from those
violent clashes”. “He really cares. I have seen him attend to them” p. 195.
