Jejak Langkah is not just a historical novel meant to fill an episode of a nation at a critical juncture, but also aims to address the lack of literature exploring this complex period. This novel offers an alternative reading for us to view the path and waves of history from different perspectives.
The tetralogy is divided into four books, representing different periods of movement. This third novel, Jejak Langkah, is the phase of organizing resistance. Minke mobilizes all efforts to fight against the long-standing power of the Indies. However, Minke chooses not armed resistance but the path of journalism, creating as much Indigenous reading material as possible. The most famous of these is Medan Prijaji.
Through this newspaper, Minke calls upon the Indigenous people to do three things: increase boycotts, organize, and abolish feudalistic culture. Simultaneously, through journalistic steps, Minke calls out: "Educate the people with organization and educate the rulers with resistance."
No fairy tales today. But every day has potential for magic! ✨.