The Meanings of Bhisma Struggles Using Katresnanism Theory
44 before he leaves. He has knowledge which is based on what he learns in Leipzig.
He has different ideas and point of views of politics. Bhisma starts to help others as a doctor since he returns to Indonesia by
working at a small clinic in Tanjung Priok. Then, he moves to Sono Walujo, a small hospital in Kediri. One of evidences is when Bhisma helps victims of a
clash between Pemuda sugar factory where the people’s Youth supporting the
Communist and Banser. Deep inside of his heart, Bhisma feels sad when there are many victims of clashes p. 203. It is because he hates unfairness and clashes. He
does not want to see many ordinary people become victim. In his letter in April 1974, Bhisma tells that the happiest thing in his life is
when he can cure and see his patients’ smiles, “See the first smile of a recovering patient, or meet a visitor who tells you that i
t’s still better to have a home than no home at all” p. 475. Every patient who comes to him is amusing for him. It likes
his responsibility to help them to be health. He always works hard to apply his knowledge as a doctor. If he cannot help others, he would be disappointed. He
definitely knows his duty. Bhisma spends his life in Buru helping sick people, including political
prisoners. He is sincere to help them without looking at their political backgrounds. Once, he tells his life in his letters about the lay of the land. As a
doctor, he is obliged to do things related to the patients. However, it is no easy because in Buru Island, there is a strict rule. The rule is very patient, if he wants to
move to a hospital from a unit or other units, needs permission from the Unit
45 Commander. Accordingly, it would be hard since there is an internal political
issue which influences their relationship with their patients. “Now your personal politics, at this point, may either aid or complicate
your relationship with a patient, especially if he is your fellow prisoner. He may suddenly snap at you wounded scorn, accusing you of brown-nosing
those in power, or he may praise you. Telling you that knowing how to heal is a good thing-
it is fighting the good fight.” p. 488. In this case, fighting does not always in physical way. For Bhisma, fighting
requires both physical and mental ways due to he fights for his profession as a doctor.
In Buru Island, Bhisma is still grateful for his life because he has a special position as a doctor. Besides, the greatest thing for him is when he always learns
something new in the island. Bhisma has a different thing as a result of his ideological belief so that he lives in his own way. Bhisma does many tasks and
observes every single thing that is related to his patients. He observes how other doctors deal with ailments and patients, “I’m learning how other doctors deal with
fellow doctors, ego to ego, in front of the patients, and how their nature affects their behaviour towards their patients” p. 489.
In his journey of life, sometimes there is a doubt in Bhisma. Once, he has willingness to leave his profession as a doctor. Even, when he remembers the fate
of his friend, a Chinese descent doctor who works as a head of surgery in a hospital in Stutgart. The doctor receives a racial discrimination in Jakarta.
Therefore, he ends up in Papua. His friend inspires him to go to Kediri because he can heal people as his deep passion. Bhisma deals with his ideology of
responsibility. He states, “In Kediri where I met and fell in love with you, I was to
46 do what my friend ended up doing. I felt no political or ideological impetus. I had
no bad experiences to compel me, I simply wanted to do it because it was my duty” p. 490. It shows that Bhisma is responsible to his duty. As a result, he
works with his ideology and his heart. Thus, Bhisma’s struggles are always remembered in Buru particularly by
the people in Waepo. They have a special ceremony for him. Bhisma is well known as The Wise Man of Waepo because he knows how to deal with people
and various communities. He comprehends the power of folks that have a way of protecting people. Another reason is after the penal colony is over, Bhisma prefers
to stay in Buru Island to come home. According to Amba and Samuel, they consider Bhisma as a lost star.
“Like all the other prisoners who stayed, he was given a plot of land to work. For several years he made do with the plot that was given to him
and, as Manalisa told us, he would have attended to those who sought his medical help as he did his trees-
that is, with infinite patience and care” p. 511.
Samuel who has never met Bhisma is able to consider Bhisma’s value.
Many people love and remember him because Bhisma likes to walk alone and returns with medical leaves. Very often, he moves into the woods to cure many
refugees who need his medical help p. 512. As he writes his letter in 1975, people respect him not merely because of his profession but because of his care
p. 496. In his last letter to Manalisa, Bhisma argues that a sacrifice can abolish
hatred. After many years living with words and terms, he thinks that the words and terms divide people. Because of the words, they are labelled, exterminated,
47 and spared. Bhisma witnesses it when he lives in Leipzig, many people are killed
because they are labelled as counter revolutionary. Similarly, it is not different when he spends his time in Java, the prisoners are labelled A, B, C which means
to the life and death time for them pp. 520-521. From this experience, Bhisma concludes that hatred can be power to survive, that one
’s sacrifice can prevent hatred. Hence, Bhisma sacrifices himself to help others.
The meanings of Bhisma’s struggles as a doctor and tapol political
prisoner cannot be separated from Bhisma ’s characteristics and his life
experience. When he must be apart from his family and live with Lipalasy ’s
family, to continue his study, Bhisma be comes more respectful to his parents’
struggles and Lipalasy’s kindness. His heart and thought are touched by his
experience when he gets along with his friends in Leipzig. It opens Bhisma’s
world view. He always perceives what happens to other people, mainly people who live in the unfair condition and suffer from disease or war effect. What
Bhisma does is also inspired by his idols and compassion. Since then, he dedicates his life to serve his country and other people
sincerely. Through his profession, Bhisma wants to give his life to other people in accordance with his responsibility as a doctor, although he lives as a tapol. The
responsibility for Bhisma means to always struggle for life in every single condition even when he is powerless. He fights against the power and unfairness
through his capability in curing and helping other people. Therefore, he becomes happy when he can help other people. On the contrary, he will be sad if there are
many people suffering from disease or war effect. Although he has been gifted
48 with supernatural power, he does not use it to fight in a physical way. He uses it to
decide his death if he feels enough to live. Moreover, he ends his life because he wants to help a victim of two young Amboneses p. 514. His struggles mean as
his sacrifice for others’ lives because he does not like hatred and violence. He only wants to serve his country on his way.
.
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