India Lost: Selling a Colonial War

The documentary 'India Lost... Selling a Colonial War' reveals how the Dutch government maintained the narrative of a justified war in Indonesia (1945-1949) through framing, propaganda, and political decisions. It showcases how the struggle was marketed to the public under the guise of 'police actions,' while neglecting the violence on the other side during the Bersiap period. Internationally renowned historians from Indonesia, Australia, America, and the Netherlands provide insights into this complex history. For the first time, 'India Lost' places this war within its international political context and illustrates how the various narratives continue to resonate today. Organized in collaboration with Pennings Foundation, from August 15 to November 22, 2025, the foundation will also display the photo project 'My Dearest Teun' by Tahné Kleijn, inspired by her grandmother's diaries during her captivity in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, as well as portrait photographs of former forced laborers by Jan Banning from his series 'Traces of War.'