CATEGORY

IBU MALUKU is the unique story of a resolute woman, Jeanne van Diejen-Roemen, who survives the hardships of remote jungles, the horrors of two world wars, and the life-threatening political upheavals that preceded the birth of the Republic of Indonesia.

Her story reminds one of Mother Theresa and Florence Nightingale because, like these women, Jeanne had an overriding sense of duty — that of wanting to be of service to her fellow- man.

During her life, she distinguished herself as a planter, nurse, midwife, gardener, and social worker. In the Moluccas she spearheaded the fight against leprosy, and enabled hundreds of lepers to again assume a useful role in the society that had banished them earlier on. She initiated the plans to bring isolated forest people into the 20th century, and founded a hospital, a school, an orphanage and a home for the elderly. In recognition of her efforts, Indonesia's first president Sukarno started calling her Ibu Maluku — Mother of the Moluccas — and the name stuck.

Though she had a carte blanche with Sukarno, her outspokenness brought her into conflict with him. This forced her to leave the Moluccas and the people who had given her their trust. Apart from a short, memorable visit to the Moluccas, she has lived in the Netherlands, where, on June 6, 2001, she celebrated her 105th birthday.