Jakarta (c. 1975)

The photo on the facing page shows the neat, ordered Jakarta that all of us dream of and long for, with streets where the stream of traffic flows, instead of being clogged with fume-spewing vehicles going nowhere. It is taken from a rare and fascinating Welcome to Jakarta guidebook produced by the city’s government that I found among the musty magazines and schoolbooks at the small book market off Jl. Asia-Afrika in Bandung.

Although there is no date listed in the book, from its images – including this one, with the Hilton Hotel (now the Sultan) under construction and the Istora Senayan sports stadium nearby – it must have been produced around 1975. Professionally produced by Delroisse publisher, with text in English, Japanese and French and color prints throughout, it extols the attractions of the city, including its potential as a convention host, its swank hotels (among them is the Kartika Plaza, which was demolished on Jl. Thamrin in the early 1990s) and varied entertainment. The latter section includes a photo of then-legal gambling and also the North Jakarta sports arena where the Spanish game of pelota was played.

The photo at right shows the then unusual specter of traffic congestion, caused by a street rally.

The book also has photos of the vibrant and handsome Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin, whose progressive approach to running the city contributed to its rapid development (he died earlier this year). Under less visionary and skilled leadership, that development has careened into the often frustrating, divided but still exciting city that we find today.

The Jakarta we know today is still recognizable in the photos, even if its face has changed inexorably. Of course, there is no stopping progress, but these images not only show the way we were, but what has been lost. And also what could have been.

BACK THEN

- Jakarta Governor Ali Sadikin serves a population of 3.5 million Jakartans.
- A Gubernatorial Instruction declares Menteng Stadium, originally built in 1921, a heritage site for preservation.
- The Indonesian Automotive Association is founded in Jakarta.
- Singer Melky Goeslaw wins the National Level Popular Songs Contest.
- Pope Paul VI visits Jakarta.
- Indonesia annexes East Timor.
- Denmark’s Svend Pri snaps Indonesian Rudy Hartono’s winning streak of seven consecutive men’s singles titles at the All-England badminton championship (Rudy returned to win a record eighth title the next year).

+ Bruce Emond

Got a special photo of Indonesia way back when? Share it with WEEKENDER readers and win merchandise, including free photo processing vouchers. Please contribute your photo, including information on the background of the photo, where it was taken, by whom and in what year, by sending it on CD to The Jakarta Post WEEKENDER, Jl. Palmerah Barat 142-143, Jakarta Barat. All photographs must be original submissions. We regret we cannot return CDs.

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