Njai

A Dutch man named Van der Velden with his Njai and their daughter.

The njai ([ɲai]; Enhanced Indonesian Spelling System: nyai) were women who were kept as housekeepers, companions, and concubines in the Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia). In the Javanese language, the word nyai meant "sister",[1] but the term later took a more specific meaning.[2][3] Author Rob Nieuwenhuys described the position of the njai as always subservient, being the white man's housekeeper and companion, before she was his concubine.[4]

  1. ^ Jacobs, Hans; Roelands, Jan (1970). Indisch ABC (in Dutch). Arbeiderspers. p. 103.
  2. ^ Indische letteren: documentatieblad van de Werkgroep Indisch-Nederlandse Letterkunde (in Dutch). Werkgroep Indisch-Nederlandse Letterkunde. 2001. p. 135.
  3. ^ Indisch letterland: verhalen uit twee eeuwen Nederlands- Indische literatuur (in Dutch). Sijthoff. 1987. p. 6. ISBN 9789021838014.
  4. ^ Berg, Joop van den (1992). Soebatten, sarongs en sinjo's: Indische woorden in het Nederlands (in Dutch). BZZTôH. p. 62. ISBN 9789062915590.