Petrus Kanisius Ojong

Petrus Kanisius Ojong
Born Auwjong Peng Koen
(1920-07-25)25 July 1920
Fort de Kock, West Sumatra, Dutch East Indies
Died 31 May 1980(1980-05-31) (aged 59)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Alma mater Gajah Mada University
Occupation Founder of Kompas daily & Gramedia
Years active 1965 - 1980
Spouse(s) Catherine Oei Kian Kiat
Children 6
Parent(s) Auwjong Pauw & Njo Loan Eng Nio
P. K. Ojong
Traditional Chinese 歐陽炳昆
Simplified Chinese 欧阳炳昆
Indonesian name
Indonesian Auwjong Peng-koen

Petrus Kanisius Ojong (25 July 1920 – 31 May 1980)[1] was one of the founders of Kompas, one of Indonesia's daily newspapers, together with Jakob Oetama.[2]

Early life

Auwjong Peng Koen was born in Bukittinggi[3] on July 25, 1920. Since childhood, his father, Auwjong Pauw, always taught him to be disciplined, economical, and hard working. His father was a farmer in Quemoy Island (part of Fujian Province,now under control of Taiwan). He moved to Sumatra to get a better job.

Even though eventually Auwjong Pauw became a successful tobacco lord, he never pampered his children. His teachings had really shaped Peng Koen's character. He became a serious and very straightforward person.

Peng Koen attended the Hollandsche Chineesche School (primary school for the Chinese).[1] During this time he was introduced to Catholic teachings, and finally converted to Catholicism and received the baptismal name of Andreas.

Higher education

Peng Koen went to Hollandsche Chineesche Kweekschool to pursue his study. During this time, he was appointed as a leader of students organization. His task was to prepare reading material for the members. Other than that, he also planned the Chinese New Year celebration and year-end picnic.

He loved to read newspapers and magazines. Whereas other students just read the articles, Peng Koen tried to digest the writing styles and the ideas of every articles. It is said that Peng Koen was a bit 'stiff' when he faced the opposite sex. One of his ex-classmates, Oei Yin Hwa, who owned a sweets shop in Cianjur, still remembers that Peng Koen was known as verstrooide professor or "forgetful professor".[4] He was also known for having a serious demeanor.[3]

Career Life

Peng Koen was a teacher before he became a journalist.[3] He studied at a teacher's college in Jakarta and worked as a teacher from 1940 to 1942.[5] His career as teacher was ended when Japan attacked Indonesia and closed all the existing school at that time.

He also worked for Star Weekly, a Malay language weekly which targeted non-Chinese-speaking Indonesian Chinese, starting in 1946.[3] He continued working there (while sometimes working for other magazines as well) until it was banned in 1960.[1] During that time he also had an opportunity to work with Felix Tan.[6]

Social Work

PK Ojong actively took part in a social organization called Sin Ming Hui,[1] which was established by Khoe Woen Sioe and Injo Beng Goat. The organisation was housed in one of Jakarta's best-known historic landmarks, Candra Naya.

Post Life

PK Ojong died in Jakarta in 1980. His biography, PK Ojong: Hidup Sederhana, Berpikir Mulia was published in 2001.[3] The author of the book is Helen Ishwara.[3] The book contains PK Ojong's experiences with the background of Old Order and New Order

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leo Suryadinata (2015). Prominent Indonesian Chinese: Biographical Sketches (4th edition). pp. 209–210. ISBN 9814620505.
  2. ↑ Kompas Gramedia. "Kompas Gramedia Management Team". Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lie Hua (2001-10-14). "P.K. Ojong -- A simple life full of achievement". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  4. ↑ Helen Ishwara (2001). P.K. Ojong: hidup sederhana, berpikir mulia (in Indonesian). p. 30. ISBN 9797090000.
  5. ↑ Karel Steenbrink (2015). Catholics in Independent Indonesia: 1945-2010. p. 210. ISBN 9004285423.
  6. ↑ "Felix Tan (Tan Fay Tjhion)" (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 2001-02-22. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
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