From 18 to 30 September 2023, a team of Indonesian and Dutch authors presented the Indonesian editions of Over de Grens (Melewati Batas) and Revolutionary Worlds (Dunia Revolusi) at various universities in Indonesia. The tour was organised by publisher Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia.
The tour began on 18 September in Jakarta with an official book launch at the Perpustakaan Nasional Indonesia (National Library), with historian Hilmar Farid giving a keynote address.
On 20 September, the books were discussed in Yogyakarta as part of the seminar 'The new path of Indonesian-Dutch historiography', organised by the Universitas Gadjah Mada (read the report in Indonesian here). During this round-table discussion, future plans to study this history were sparred over. Issues discussed included: further research into the human aspects of this history, development of memory studies in Indonesia, what are Indonesian concepts, how is this conflict presented, how do Indonesians see themselves, can you involve non-academics, how do you connect with Indonesian education, what are possible new sources.
In the following days, a small delegation of authors continued with presentations of both books at the universities of the Indonesian researchers involved in the Regiostudies collaborative project with UGM and the book Dunia Revolusi (Revolutionary worlds). Visits were made to the following universities: Airlangga in Surabaya (see recording) Universitas Hasanudin in Makassar (report), Universitas Negeri Padang in Padang (recording) and Universitas Medan in Medan (report). Presentations were also made at Universitas Ratulangi in Manado and Universitas Udayana in Denpasar (report). The audience consisted largely of history students and teachers. Indonesian veterans were also present at some of the presentations.
Melewati Batas was presented in alternating roles by Gert Oostindie, Rémy Limpach, Eveline Buchheim and Frank van Vree. The presentations raised questions about the choice not to use the term war crimes, what the political consequences of the investigation might be for the Netherlands and Indonesia, and the status of the 17 August 1945 recognition..
Dunia Revolusi werd in wisselende samenstelling gepresenteerd by Bambang Purwanto, Abdul Wahid, Yulianti, Martijn Eickhoff en Ireen Hoogenboom, together with de betreffende regionale onderzoeker: Tri Wahyuning M. Irsyam (Jakarta), Farabi Fakih, Galuh Ambar Sasi, Julianto Ibrahim (Yogyakarta), Sarkawi Husain, Yuanda Zara (Surabaya), Taufik Ahmad (Makassar), Erniwati (Padang) en Apriani Harahap, Mawardi Umar (Medan). The presentations raised questions about the book's impact on Indonesian historiography, national narrative and education. There was also considerable interest in the history of one's own region, methodology, sources used, mutual cooperation and difficulties researchers encountered during research.
