#HUTKE-77RI Tear the Flag at DENIS, Burn the Spirit of Bandung City Residents
Residents of Bandung know where the DENIS Building is? Starting from this building, the spirit of the citizens of Bandung became turbulent again.
DENIS stands for NV. De Eerste Nederlandsch-Indische Spaarkas (PT. First Dutch East Indies Savings Bank). In its day, DENIS was the savings, insurance and mortgage bank in the Dutch East Indies.
It is located at Bragaweg 14 in Braga, Sumur Bandung. Precisely at the corner of the intersection of Jalan Braga-Naripan-ABC, this building was built in 1935 and is still standing in its original form.
The DENIS building is one of the great works of architect Albert Frederik Aalbers. Now, the DENIS building has been occupied by Bank BJB which was established on May 20, 1961.
No one thought that this bank building would become a great history for the people of Bandung. Around September-October 1945 there was a tearing of the Dutch flag at the DENIS Building. The incident ignited the spirit of the Bandung fighters.
The author Her Suganda dramatically describes the tearing of the Dutch flag on the tower of the DENIS Building in the book "Tourism of Parijs van Java". It is said that the Dutch flag flying until October angered the Indonesian people.
This triggers Moh. Endang Karmas and Mulyono took action to climb the flagpole on the tower of the building. Dutch soldiers occupying Savoy Homann aimed their guns.
They shot the two young men. The two reckless brave men almost became victims.
However, bravely Endang Karmas, who was at the top immediately pulled out the bayonet tucked in his waist.
He tore off the blue on the flag, leaving only red and white with a little bit of blue left.
This building eventually became one of the witnesses to the history of Bandung Lautan Api. Even though decades have passed, his spirit to defend rights and truth can still be a reflection for us to follow today. (din)**
Head of the Bandung City Communication and Information Technology
Yayan A. Brilyana
