Nawawi, bearing the title Soetan Ma’moer, is a fascinating figure in the history of education and modernity in Minangkabau during the Colonial Era. As a modernist teacher, he successfully blended traditional values with the new ideas that were emerging during the colonial era. A concrete example of his progressive thinking is evident in the way he educated and raised his children, particularly his daughter, Encik Syarifah.
Amid the tradition-bound society of Bukittinggi, Nawawi took the highly progressive step of enrolling Syarifah in the prestigious Sekolah Radja. Syarifah became the first native woman to both attend and graduate from this esteemed school—a remarkable achievement for a native woman at that time. Nawawi didn’t stop there; he later sent Syarifah to Betawi to study at the Salemba Boarding School, a Christian institution, to broaden her horizons, especially in the Dutch language. Interestingly, Nawawi changed Syarifah’s nickname to “Mien” to make it easier for the Dutch to pronounce. This action demonstrates how Nawawi was able to adapt to the needs of the times without losing the essence of his daughter’s identity.
As a modern father, Nawawi also took the bold step of marrying Encik Syarifah to RAAM Wiranatakoesoemah, a Bupati of Sunda, without involving the Mamak (maternal uncle) who traditionally plays a role in marriages in Minangkabau society. This is evidence of Nawawi’s courage to step outside tradition for the happiness and future of his child.
Nawawi, bearing the title Soetan Ma’moer, and his wife ran their household on modern principles as well. They took full responsibility for their nine children without interference from the extended family or the strict rules of the Rumah Gadang that usually bind families in Minangkabau. The story of Nawawi, bearing the title Soetan Ma’moer, is a portrait of how a father and husband in the colonial era could bring about significant change in the lives of his family. By thinking ahead, he paved the way for his children, especially Encik Syarifah, to achieve higher education and a broader life, free from the constraints of rigid traditions.
Encik Syarifah Nawawi was born in Bukittinggi in 1897 when the city began to emerge as a center of Dutch colonial culture in West Sumatra. Bukittinggi was filled with new dynamics at that time, especially through the colonial government’s establishment of educational institutions. Amidst the influx of modernity, Encik Syarifah grew up as part of the first generation of city residents who experienced significant cultural and lifestyle changes. As the fourth child of nine siblings, Encik Syarifah came from an ordinary family that transformed into a respected household in Bukittinggi, thanks to her father, Nawawi, bearing the title Soetan Ma’moer. Nawawi, a teacher at the Sekolah Radja, was respected not only by the local community but also by Dutch colonial officials. His position as a teacher gave him access to education and a more open lifestyle, something he passed on to his children.
As a woman growing up in a modern family in the city, Encik Syarifah was introduced to Western culture from an early age. Her parents enrolled her in the ELS (Europeesche Lagere School), a school intended for European and native elite children. After graduating from the ELS, Encik Syarifah continued her education at the Sekolah Radja, a prestigious school for educated natives. However, her formal education did not stop there. Her father, with his forward-thinking vision, sent Syarifah and her sister, Sjamsiar, to Batavia (Jakarta) to study at the Salemba Boarding School, a Christian residential school.
This was a rare move by Minangkabau parents at the time, especially for daughters. At the Salemba Boarding School, the sisters adapted to the new environment, including changing their names to more “Western” ones—Encik Syarifah became “Mien,” and Sjamsiar became “Emma.” The name change not only showed their flexibility in adapting but also marked the strong influence of colonial culture at the time. While in Batavia, Encik Syarifah built a wide network of friends. She socialized with people from various religious and ethnic backgrounds, an experience that gave her a broad perspective.
Her ability to speak foreign languages, especially Dutch, made it easier for her to interact with her multicultural surroundings. This experience further enriched Syarifah’s personality, making her an independent woman who was open to change. At the age of 19, considered mature enough for the time, Encik Syarifah married Moeharam, a Sundanese youth who was her schoolmate in Batavia. Moeharam, who later took the title R.A.A. Wiranatakoesoema, was a Sundanese nobleman who would eventually become the Bupati of Bandung.
The marriage was an unconventional step for Syarifah as a Minangkabau woman. In Minangkabau tradition, it is usually the man who follows the wife and resides in the Rumah Gadang, the traditional matrilineal family home. However, Syarifah left Bukittinggi and followed her husband to Bandung, indicating that she had crossed the rigid boundaries of tradition to lead her own life. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last long. Syarifah was divorced by her husband via telegram, an action that drew widespread criticism and sympathy at the time.
The community was not only shocked but also felt pity for Syarifah, who had to face divorce in such an unusual manner. One form of sympathy came from the wife of the Governor-General van Limburg Stirum, who visited her in Bandung in the 1930s. After her divorce, Syarifah returned to her hometown in Bukittinggi in 1924. However, she did not return as a defeated or disheartened woman. Instead, she carved her path as an intellectual and leader. Syarifah was appointed the head of the Meisjevervolgschool, a secondary school for girls in Bukittinggi. She also led the SKIS Congress (Sarekat Kaum Ibu Sumatera) held in Bukittinggi in 1929, showcasing her ability as a woman who was not only educated but also influential.
Syarifah became a real-life example of how a Minangkabau woman in the early days was able to break through traditional boundaries and face the challenges of her time. She was not just a figure in the history of education in Indonesia but also a symbol of female independence in a society still dominated by patriarchal norms. Syarifah proved that Minang women have the right and ability to determine their life paths, even when faced with social and cultural pressure. And independence is not something to be feared but embraced as part of the process of self-growth. Like Syarifah, all Minang women have the opportunity to be agents of change in the life of this nation’s society, without being confined by what has been determined by tradition or society.
