Any one of the Dutch rulers at the time who read the pamphlet must have burned inside. Peppered with sharp words and wit, the pamphlet, Als ik eens Nederlander (If I Were a Dutchman), was written by Soewardi Soerjaningrat. This was the young man's form of protest against the Dutch, who were about to celebrate their 100 years of national independence on colonized territory.

"Has it not occurred to you that this coolie also wants to be like us, to be