In my journey as a member of the Social and Biodiversity Impact Assessment (SBIA) study team for a company in Ketapang Regency, the name of one of the villages on the study list immediately caught my attention: Tempurukan Village. The name sounded so unique, provoking curiosity. What does this name mean? Is there an interesting story behind it? Unfortunately, information about the origin of Tempurukan village’s name is not available online. In the spirit of fulfilling my curiosity, I made it a special mission while on duty.
The opportunity finally came when the village became a study site. As soon as I set foot in Tempurukan, my first question to the local community leader was, “What is the meaning or origin of the name of this village, sir?” The answer I received from Mr. Erham Zainal, the head of the village council, opened a curtain of history that is rarely known outside of Tempurukan village.
Tempurukan Village, which was officially established in 1956, has a history that is closely related to the Dutch colonial period. According to stories passed down through generations, the name comes from the bitter experience of Dutch troops when surveying Gunung Tunggal – a hill located east of the village. Gunung Tunggal itself came to the attention of the colonizers because they were looking for King Panembahan Muhammad Saunan, a leader who symbolized the resistance of the local people.
However, the plan did not go smoothly. The terrain around Gunung Tunggal was so difficult to traverse because it was filled with swamps and peat soil that Dutch troops often fell into the mud when crossing the area. In the local language, such conditions are known as “tempurukan,” which means “mired.” Eventually, the area began to be called Tempurukan – a name that not only describes the geographical terrain but also contains a little story of the people’s struggle.
The story behind the name Tempurukan gives us an idea of how local history can survive and become the identity of a community. This name is not only a geographical label, but also a reminder of a past full of struggles and challenges. Although simple, this name holds a wealth of meaning and historical value.
As a writer, I am not only inspired by the story of this name, but also tempted to explore the history of land use in Tempurukan village. However, I will share that story another time. There is so much we can learn from the traces of change and adaptation of this village community towards the utilization of the resources around them.
