This work is a presentation of the investigation process by Rangga Purbaya about the existence of his grandfather, Boentardjo Amaroen Kartowinoto. Rangga Purbaya had never met his grandfather because the grandfather was arrested in 1965 – long before Rangga was born – and has never returned since then. Rangga’s parents once mentioned that sometime after his grandfather was arrested, he was then executed in Luweng Grubug, Yogyakarta. Luweng Grubug is a vertical cave 90 meters in depth that end with a heavy flow underground stream at the bottom. The river disembogues into the Indian Ocean. Luweng Grubug was used as the site to eliminate people who were presumed communists or had anything related to the G30S incident (30 September Movement) in 1965. Yet, was his grandfather involved in the incident? Who was he? Why the government did consider that it was best to kill and dispose of him in Luweng Grubug? This is what triggered his interest to investigate furthermore.

The investigation started with interviews with his grandfather’s children, who are also the siblings of Rangga’s father. Rangga approached them and collected their stories. From them, Rangga Purbaya managed to obtain the image and idea of who his grandfather was. Boentardjo was described as an idealist father who held his principles. He was also disciplined, supportive, and someone who was against oppression. He was a revolutionary. 

Aside from interviews, Rangga Purbaya also collected his grandfather’s artifacts, such as certificates, officialdom documents, and diaries, which mentioned that Boentardjo was an official at the Economic Department of Special Region of Yogyakarta Local Government. He was also an active agricultural extension practitioner. This was probably the underlying cause of why he was arrested and killed. Boentardjo was also a member of Barisan Tani Indonesia- BTI (Peasants Front of Indonesia). BTI was an organization, which defended the rights of the peasants and provided cultural and political education to them and Boentardjo was the head of the BTI office in Yogyakarta. Yet, was it an appropriate reason to eliminate him without trial just because he was the head of the BTI office?

This question has haunted not only Rangga Purbaya’s mind. It has also haunted the minds of millions of others who lost the people close to them who were killed or disposed of and jailed with no explanation.

This investigation is the starting point to reveal the facts, which so far have never been discussed. The investigation also helps to understand family history, answer all the questions and doubts, as well as to find the peacefulness inside each individual and the whole family.