In 1913, the Dutch East Indies government sought to collect money to fund the centennial anniversary of Dutch independence from France back in 1813. The donations were drawn from Dutch East Indies citizens, which also include "bumiputera" (indigenous people). This decision has ignited critical opposition and negative reactions from pro-independence nationalists, including Soewardi. He wrote several critical columns, such as ""Een maar ook voor Allen Allen voor Een"" or "One for All, All for One". However, the most famous piece of Ki Hadjar Dewantara's column is "If I were a Dutchman" (original title: ""Als ik eens Nederlander was""), printed in "De Expres" newspaper on 13 July 1913. This article fiercely criticized the colonial government of Netherlands Indies. The citation of his writing, as followsː