Prophets and followers in Batak Millenarian responses to the colonial order : parmalim, na siak bagi and parhudamdam, 1890-1930

Abstract

The thesis examines three related millenarian movements among the Batak: Parmalim, Na Siak Bagi and Parhudamdam. During the latter part of the 19th century, the Toba Batak area in north Sumatra was exposed to Euroean influence after the defeat of the traditional power symbol, Si Singa Mangaraja. Millenarian expectations began after Batak people were obliged to recognize the superiority of European power, yet were in many cases not satisfied with the new order. The Parmalim movement was started by Guru Somalaing, a datu (magician), who claimed to be able to gain access to the source of European power (Jehova) while retaining the essence of Toba Batak values. He gained followers mainly from places where the people were newly exposed to European influence and still retained their indigenous value systems. Parmalim followers believed that German missionaries working in these places were really Batak divine kings and that some day these kings and Raja Rum (identified with an Italian traveller Modigliani) would drive the Dutch away.