PLAGUE MANAGEMENT IN PALEMBANG: COLONIAL MEASURES AND THE ROLE OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES 1821-1942

Abstract

This research examines the responses of the Dutch colonial government and local communities to disease outbreaks in Palembang between 1821 and 1942. As a major trade center in Sumatra, Palembang was frequently exposed to epidemics such as cholera, smallpox, beri-beri, typhoid, and anthrax. The colonial government adopted a top-down biomedical approach through vaccination campaigns, construction of military and missionary hospitals, and limited health education. In contrast, local communities developed alternative responses rooted in traditional medicine, spiritual practices, and cultural rituals, including the use of herbal remedies, mantras, and community-based ceremonies like Rebo Kasan and Sedekah Bedusun. by analyzing colonial archives, health reports, oral traditions, and local manuscripts, this study reveals that although colonial policies dominated the formal medical discourse, they often failed to replace indigenous health practices. Instead, a complex negotiation emerged, where limited accommodations were made such as the integration of native medical personnel and selective toleration of local healing methods. The findings show that the plague functioned as a contested site of power and knowledge, reflecting broader dynamics of colonial governance and local resistance. This research contributes to the historiography of colonial medicine in Southeast Asia by addressing a geographical gap outside Java and demonstrating the significance of intercultural responses in shaping public health outcomes in colonial Palembang.