Visiting Scholar Fikrul Hanif Sufyan pictured with Indonesia Forum Convenor Dr Monika Winarnita and seminar co-chair Dr Bronwyn Beech Jones, along with attendees after the event.

Visiting Scholar Presentation: Islamic and Communist Protest Movements: Revolution and the End of Resistance in Colonial West Sumatra

The communist critiques of colonial West Sumatran society initiated by Sarekat Rakyat members in October 1923 involved the strategic use of the press, recitations, and clubs to cultivate anti-colonial and anti-capitalist sentiment.

These activities contributed to the uprisings of late 1926 and early 1927 and influenced the colonial government’s decision to exile several leaders.

In this presentation, speaker Fikrul Hanif Sufyan examined this resistance, communist critiques of colonial West Sumatran society, connections with uprisings in late 1926 and early 1927, as well as the exiling of leaders by the colonial government.

This seminar was co-chaired by Dr Bronwyn Beech Jones, Subject Coordinator in South East Asian History, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at the Faculty of Arts. Dr Jones also interpreted for Sufyan during the Q&A session of the seminar.

 

Speaker Bio

Fikrul Hanif Sufyan is a historian and lecturer at Sekolah Tinggi Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (STKIP) Yayasan Abdi Pendidikan in Payakumbuh and holds an adjunct lecturing position at Universitas Islam Negeri Imam Bonjol, Padang, West Sumatra.

His primary research interests are Islamic communism and Islamic modernism and their influence on anticolonial and nationalist action and thoughts in West Sumatra in the first half of the Twentieth Century.

Fikrul’s recent monographs include:

He is also a contributor to the Encyclopedia of Indonesian National History (2022) and a producer of several historical documentaries. Fikrul is currently researching the life of Djamaluddin Tamim in collaboration with Harry Poeze (KITLV).

Fikrul Hanif Sufyan visited the University of Melbourne from 13 May to 3 June 2024, hosted by Bronwyn Beech Jones from the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, funded by the Indonesia Strategic Engagement Group (ISEG) initiative from The University of Melbourne.

He delivered guest lectures and presentations in Modern Southeast Asia (HIST20034) and Indonesia in the World (INDO30020), conducted collaborative research with Dr Bronwyn Beech Jones on Minang Islamic communist prisoners transferred to and held in Cowra, NSW, Australia during World War Two, co-convened a research workshop on directions in local history research in Indonesia, and deliver a seminar for postgraduate students on his research about the life of Djamaluddin Tamin.

  • Event Details

    Tuesday, 28 May, 2024 (11:30–12:30)

    Room 321, Level 3, Sidney Myer Asia Centre (Building 158)

Visiting Scholar Fikrul Hanif Sufyan pictured with Indonesia Forum Convenor Dr Monika Winarnita and seminar co-chair Dr Bronwyn Beech Jones, along with attendees after the event.
Visiting Scholar Fikrul Hanif Sufyan (right) pictured with Emerita Professor Kathryn Robinson (left)
Visiting Scholar Fikrul Hanif Sufyan delivering his presentation at the Asia Institute.