I still remember when I was a little child, I was truly intrigued by the story of Maria @ Bertha Hertogh, or her Muslim name Natrah @ Nadra, a Dutch girl who was adopted by a Malay family in 1940's, raised as a Muslim and later taken away by her biological parents back to their homeland by Court decree. The Court's decision has caused an outrage among the Muslims in the country back then, leading to deadly riots in Singapore back in 1950.
Back then, I was too young to realise that she's actually a victim of situation, a political pawn by the then-Colonial governments.
I only remembered how pretty she was - a young Mat Salleh girl in baju kurung, looking so 'ayu' in her long selendang.
And it really touched my heart to know that she had made a will to donate her body upon her death for research, instead of being buried.
May you rest in peace, Nadra. xoxo"For many she is still an icon in the battle against British imperialism and an example of what religious differences can lead to." - A statement by Natrah's family on her passing away.
"Her birthday party had a Malaysian-Indonesian theme. Everyone wore Baju Melayu. She talked a lot about her happy days in Malaysia and her heart was very much there." - Malaysia's Ambassador to The Netherlands Datuk Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib.
(
p.s . I would like to share with you an article on her death published in New Straits Times today.)
Maria Hertogh, 72, dies of leukaemia
2009/07/10
From Zaharah Othman in LondonMaria Hertogh, 72, dies of leukaemia
THE woman at the centre of a legal tussle between her Dutch parents and her Malaysian foster mother that became a worldwide cause celebre in the 1950s died yesterday at the age of 72. Nadrah Maarof, or Maria Bertha Hertogh, died at her home in Huijberhen in southern Holland of leukaemia. Her children and close relatives were at her side.
The youngest of her 10 children, Silvija Wolkenfelt, said there would be no burial as it was Hertogh's last wish to donate her body for research.
"All her life she did what other people wanted. This is her own choice, and it is important we respect that," the 38-year-old said in a phone interview.
"Her life was a struggle, but she was very funny and very sweet. She always tried to make life easier for other people."
A statement released by the family said Hertogh made world news when her parents Adeline Hunter and Adrianus Petrus Hertogh went to court to seek her return after World War 2.
Adrianus had been captured by the Japanese in Indonesia in 1942. Her mother then gave her up for adoption to Aminah Mohamad from Terengganu without her father's knowledge. She was renamed Nadrah Maarof and raised in Kemaman as a Muslim.
After his release at the end of the war, Adrianus began the search for his daughter. Aminah took her to Singapore to see her father, and she was placed in a girls' home in the republic.
Aminah won an appeal to get her back and the then 13-year-old was married to Mansor Adabi. But on Dec 12, 1950, the court ruled she should be returned to her biological father and she went back to Holland where she was brought up according to the religion of her father.
"After the judge assigned her to her Dutch parents, riots broke out between Muslims and Christians in Singapore, resulting in 18 deaths and 200 people injured."
Hertogh returned for the first time to Malaysia in 1999 for a Dutch television documentary. She said her childhood was the only period in her life that she was really happy.
"For many she is still an icon in the battle against British imperialism and an example of what religious differences can lead to," said the statement.
Malaysia's Ambassador to The Netherlands Datuk Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib, who last met Hertogh at her birthday party on March 24, said she looked frail but happy.
"Her birthday party had a Malaysian-Indonesian theme. Everyone wore Baju Melayu. She talked a lot about her happy days in Malaysia and her heart was very much there." (**This entry was originally posted as a Facebook note on July 10, 2009)
