The Faculty of Humanities, University of Indonesia (FIB UI) on its 74th Anniversary on Monday, 1 December 2014, has appointed Prof. Dr. Peter Carey as Adjunct Professor at FIB UI. His appointment, which was officially awarded in April 2013, was supported by the ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD).
Taking place at the Auditorium Building I of FIB UI, Peter Carey took the occasion to deliver an inaugural lecture titled: “The Uses and Abuses of History: A British Historical’s View of Indonesia“. During this lecture, Peter Carey discussed many things about Indonesia, including criticism at the inadequate attitude of the government and the people of Indonesia in responding to history. For example, the history of tsunami.
There are almost no textbooks in elementary, middle and high schools that cover how to respond to tsunami, including in schools located in tsunami prone areas. Instead, what is taught about tsunamis is limited to superstitions with minimum scientific explanation of the cause of tsunami and how to mitigate the disaster.
The award was also given for his high dedication in research on Southeast Asia, specifically Indonesia. This is likewise linked to the scarcity of history professors, particularly in the Department of History, FIB UI.
Peter Carey, who is also a Fellow Emeritus of Trinity College, Oxford, UK, has been conducting intensive research focusing on Indonesia, East Timor, and Burma. In Indonesia, this seasoned historian is particularly recognized as a researcher and expert on Prince Diponegoro. One of his most famous books on Prince Diponegoro is the three volumes of Kuasa Ramalan: Pangeran Diponegoro dan Akhir Tatanan Lama di Jawa 1785—1855 (The Power of Prophecy: Prince Diponegoro and the End of an Old Order in Java 1785-1855), published in 2011, this work is an incredibly comprehensive history series related to Prince Diponegoro. (Source: FIB–UI and Peter Carey / zhn / translator: Widya)