On 20 July 1913, Suwardi Suryaningrat, who had connections with the Bumi Putera Committee, wrote "Als ik eens Nederlander was?" ("What If I Were a Dutchman?"), a striking protest against the plans of the Dutch Colonial Government to celebrate 100 years of Dutch independence. As a result of this article, Dr. Tjipto Mangunkusumo and Suwardi Suryoningrat were tried and sentenced to exile in the Banda Islands. However, they were given the alternative choice of transportation to the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, Suwardi pursued studies in field of Education, while Dr. Tjipto fell ill and returned home to Indonesia.