27 Bhisma
’s parents have already sold all goods that they have, including his mother’s lovely clothes and beds. They do so for their children, particularly for
Bhisma, their youngest child. His father says, “Yes, our youngest must be well
educated ” p. 240. Bhisma realizing his name is mentioned, he feels sad when he
sees sorrow in his parents’ faces. Bhisma is crying for his parents, “He was crying for his parents, for
himself, and for his shared bed because, God forbid, what if they should want to s
ell it too?” p. 240. Despite his young age, he has already known that life has plenty of choices to struggle.
He follows his parents’ suggestions to live with Lipalasy’s family. In Leiden and Leipzig, he still loves his family. Therefore, he
remains to contact his family, especially his sister, Mita.
b. Attentive to Other People
As time changes , Bhisma’s care is not only for his family but also for
others. One of the examples is when he is in a canteen of the small hospital in Berlin. In 1958, after his last semester in Leipzig, he suddenly sees a woman
sitting sadly with her problems. Bhisma approaches and asks for her condition, “One winter day, I asked her whether she’d had dinner” p. 506. By asking a
simple question, he shows his care about that woman. Then, he gives his time to relax
his acquaintance. He listens to the woman’s story that is capable of touching his heart. “I soon learned, she had many issues, her father was a drunkard, her
brother a womanizer an d a brute” p. 506. He definitely cares about her because
Bhisma has his own ways in facing a woman rather than a man.
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,
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