Becak: From Invention to Indonesia’s Iconic Transportation
From a Husband’s Longing for His Wife
Begin with…
In 1865, an American missionary named Jonathan Goble, who was traveling in the city of Yokohama, Japan, wanted to create a vehicle for his paralyzed wife, Eliza Weeks. Jonathan drew a small, roofless train and sent the design to his best friend, Frank Pollay. This small carriage was built by Goble to transport his paralyzed wife. Pollay then designed it and took the design to a blacksmith, Obadiah Wheeler, resulting in the creation of the first rickshaw (becak).
Popular in Japan
The Japanese term for the rickshaw is “Jinrikisha” (human-powered vehicle). This vehicle attracted the attention of Japanese aristocrats, later becoming a symbol of nobility. By 1870, the Japanese government issued licenses to three individuals — Izumi Yosuke, Suzuki Tokujiro, and Takayama Kosuke — to manufacture Jinrikishas. Two years later, the Jinrikisha became a popular mode of transportation, with around 40,000 Jinrikishas filling the streets of Tokyo.
The popularity of becak spread to cities in mainland China, across South Asia (including India), throughout Southeast Asia, and even to South Africa. Initially pulled by a person, rickshaws later evolved to be operated by pedaling.
Becak in Indonesia
In Indonesia, Lea Jellanik’s book “Like a Spinning Wheel” notes that becak was imported from Singapore and Hong Kong to Batavia in the 1930s. Additionally, according to the Java Shimbun (1943), becak entered Batavia in the 1930s from Makassar. This finding is supported by evidence from the travel notes of a Japanese journalist who visited several cities in Indonesia, including Makassar. In “Pen to Camera” (1937), it is stated that the becak was discovered by a Japanese individual named Seiko-san, who owned a bicycle shop in Makassar. Due to slow bicycle sales, Seiko-san created a three-wheeled vehicle to reduce the pile of bicycles, thus inventing the tricycle.
The term “becak” (or “betjak”) originates from China, combining “bee” (horse) and “tja” (cart), which means cart horse. The Star Weekly Magazine (1960) indicates that the form of the rickshaw in Indonesia came from China. Becaks were initially used in the early 20th century to transport merchandise for Chinese traders. By 1937, becaks were also referred to as tricycles. The term “becak” was only widely used in 1940 when becak vehicles became popular.
The number of becak increased rapidly in 1942 when the Japanese occupied Indonesia. Becak became the primary mode of transportation when Japan restricted petrol usage and banned private motor vehicle ownership. Even after the war, becaks remained a prevalent form of transportation, spreading throughout Indonesia. In the mid to late 1950s, Jakarta alone had around 25,000 to 30,000 becaks. By the 1970s, this number had increased fivefold.
Over time, becak came to be seen as a symbol of Indonesia’s backwardness. Consequently, the government began limiting their presence with various policies. However, the existence of the becak also reflects the many struggles behind it. Becak continued to evolve to compete with other modes of transportation. By using a becak, individuals contribute to the survival of this mode of transportation and support the economy of becak drivers.
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References
Historia.Id. (2010). Mengayuh Sejarah Becak. Diakses dari https://historia.id/urban/articles/mengayuh-sejarah-becak-v50aD/page/3
Jellinek, L. (1994). Seperti Roda Berputar: Perubahan Sosial Sebuah Kampung di Jakarta, terjemahan Eddy Zainuru. Jakarta: LP3ES.
Times Indonesia. (2020). Sejarah Becak di Indonesia. Diakses dari https://timesindonesia.co.id/foto/1425/sejarah-becak-di-indonesia
