On the eastern outskirts of Kuta, a
famous Danish trader is immortalized with a tomb and a narrow road that
bears his name. The tomb is called the Mads Lange Memorial, while the
road’s name is Jl. Tuan Lange. The southern entry of the road lies on
the left side of Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai, some 200 meters south of the
infamous Simpang Siur intersection, known for its frustrating traffic
jams. Entering the road, a small compound of Chinese graves is soon
encountered. A stone and concrete monument more than 2 meters tall is
the centerpiece of the Mads Lange Memorial.
On its front face, a plaque bears the
words “Sacred to the Memory of Mads Johansen Lange, Knight of the
Nederland, Leeuw and Danish Gold Medal, born on the Island of Langeland,
Denmark, Sept. 18, 1807. Departed this life at Bali, May 13, 1856,
after a residence of 18 years on this island.” Dried flowers and leaves
were scattered on the ground. They were apparently the remains of a
canang (Balinese Hindus’ simplest offering of fresh flowers and leaves
arranged on rectangular container made of young coconut leaves)
presented on daily basis by a relative tasked with maintaining the tomb.
The house of the family lies next to the
tomb compound. “I was asked to take care of the grave. As a Balinese, I
always present a canang on the grave,” a member of the family, Ni Made
Widi, said, adding that the tomb was often visited by Danish tourists.
The tomb has undergone several restorations and the names of individuals
who financed the restorations can be seen on the wall next to the
tomb’s gate. A prominent scholar on the history of Bali, Adrian Vickers,
dedicated a single chapter in Bali Chronicles, a book he co-authored
with Willard A Hanna, to narrate the life and personality of Mads Lange.
In 19th century Bali, Mads Lange was an
influential trader, the trusted advisor of the island’s kings and
princes. He rose to be the trade agent for the King of Kesiman, the most
influential and powerful among the traditional rulers of Badung, a
kingdom that ruled, among others, Kuta, where Lange established his
residence. Lange passed away in 1856. It is said that he was poisoned.
He was reportedly survived by several wives and a group of children.
source : bali daily
0 comments:
Post a Comment