Carakan, also called Dêntåwyånjånå, is the traditional script used in writing Javanese, as well as Sundanese and Balinese. As a language, Javanese is spoken by approximately 80 millions people. Sadly, few Javanese still know and use Carakan to write their mother tongue.
It was in the 19th century that the Dutch imperialists who, for their own convenience and with disregard for the aesthetic, cultural and historical importance of Carakan, replaced it with the Latin alphabet.
Carakan is probably the best example to illustrate the profound cultural ties with Hindues. Javanese belongs to the Polynesian family languages. And Carakan was based on the ancient Indict script, Brahmin. Their script is clearly the source for the orthographical signs of Javanese. The two written languages share a similar syllabic structure. In fact, Aksårå, the Javanese word for syllables is the same as that in Sanskrit.
With Carakan, a single consonant, which carries with it an assumed vowel, can represent an entire syllable. To change or eliminate the vowel, one need only add small marks known as Sandangan Swårå or Pangku respectively. Clusters of consonants within a syllable are written by adding form of the consonant, known as Pasangan, to the main consonant.
There are also consonant forms called Aksårå Gedhe or Aksåra Murdå that can be used to represent proper names. These shapes and combinations make for a script that has great economy of form. Carakan’s twenty two consonants and six vowels, at once graceful and practical in their combinations of forms can, by comparison, make writing the Latin script seem plodding and cumbersome.
After centuries of great calligraphic tradition, typefaces were developed in the 19th century and were used, with decreasing frequency, up until the World War II. Since that time, Carakan has been reduced to a tool with which scholars explore the rich history of Javanese literature and language.
With each successive generation, the fluent used of Carakan wanes. It is tempting to characterize the decision of the Dutch to replace Carakan with the Latin alphabet as a deliberate act of intellectual aggression.
Whether it was aggression, or mere selfishness, they have no doubt contributed to the increasing distance between the youth of Indonesia and their own culture. It is yet another example of the colonial legacy.
It is through our understanding of our pre-colonial heritage that we can begin to free ourselves from the inferiority that still grips us as a result of colonial oppression.
Just as Marcus Garvey preached to American Blacks that their only freedom was in returning, in their hearts if not bodily, to Africa, we must return to pre-colonial Nusantara.
I do not mean that we must reject modernity, or ignore the last 400 years of history. I simply mean that we must see ourselves as whole and independent from our past colonial oppressors.
Understanding, if not actually readopting Carakan is one step in this journey.
January 19, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Hello Mas Surya,
Thanks for the work you do on behalf of the Javanese language. Are you a Javanese yourself? I have with great interest read the article “Understanding the Javanese Way of Life” and I also read what you wrote about Carakan.
Mas Surya, with due respect, taking into account the first mentioned article I cannot understand your more or less hostile remarks towards the Dutch in the Carakan article, the more so as the present selfish and aggressive attitude of the (Javanese) in power now shows that these are inherent to abuse of power by any nation. I don’t mean to attack you, I am a “Javanese” myself as I was born there and still feel very much involved.
Is it true that the language is increasingly pushed aside by Bahasa Indonesia? And that it is even hard to find teachers for this language?
Dank u wel Mas Surya, wees niet boos over mijn opmerking, ik bedoel het goed. En misschien tot ziens in de mailbox?
Salam hangat,
Tilly, Delft
January 20, 2011 at 3:24 PM
Dear Tilly,
Thank you for your comments. I appreciate you taking the time to express your point of view. Allow me to briefly answer a few of your questions.
First of all, yes, I am Javanese. Regarding the alleged hostility toward the Dutch, my comments were intended to characterize the Dutch during the years that they occupied much of Indonesia.
I am not suggesting that the Dutch, as a people, are any more or less evil than any other groups. This statement includes the Javanese. In fact, I too lived in the Netherlands during the 80′s and found many of the Dutch very decent and hospitable.
However, during their rule of Java, they decimated much of our culture and economic strength. Remember, Java as a part of the Majapahit Kingdom was a prosperous nation. Since the Dutch raped our land, we have to struggle as a poor nation. This is the common scenario in all cases of European colonization.
Europeans all over the world have disrupted cultures, taken what they wanted and, in the process, ruined the self-esteem of the native people. This is easily seen in Indonesia where all of the movie stars look White and where people, even among the educated, regard all European things as superior to Javanese things.
It makes me laugh every time I visit Indonesia to be offered Nescafe by my Indonesian friends. They so believed that, because it is Western, it must be better. They are tasting with their insecurity rather than their mouth.
About High Javanese, yes it is most decidedly true that it is difficult to find a proper teacher. This is even true in the Kraton, where Bahasa Indonesia is now often spoken. They have resorted to Bahasa Indonesia because so many are incapable of reading, writing, and expressing themselves fluently in our own language. This is directly attributable to the Dutch colonization of Java.
About Java’s current “aggressive and selfish” behaviour, no doubt about it, our own nation is just as capable as any when it comes to cruelty. And if I had been writing an article about the current political events in Indonesia, I would most certainly have highlighted our own manifold sins. But since my article was about classical Javanese literature, it was the Dutch’s turn to be ‘read’ as we say in America.
Salam Hangat Juga,
Mas Surya
January 19, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Kadospundi kabaripun Mas Surya?
Later dan u waarschijnlijk had gedacht, maar ik ben er weer. Ik heb de afgelopen tijd echter niet stilgezeten. Tussen al mijn werkzaamheden en een flinke griep door ben ik erg druk met u geweest. Dat wil zeggen: ik heb mijn kennis van de geschiedenis eens opgepoetst dus ik heb veel gelezen.
Voor ik verder ga wil ik zeggen hoe jammer ik het voor u vind dat u niet in Indonesia kunt leven. Ik denk dat mensen zoals u die zich zo voor een taal/cultuur inspannen, een aanwinst voor de maatschappij zijn. Het is te hopen dat President Wahid lang genoeg zal leven om al de veranderingen ten goede door te voeren, zodat u zich weer in uw geboorteland kunt vestigen en de samenleving bewust kunt maken van het belang de oude cultuur voor het nageslacht te bewaren.
Wat uw mailtje betreft:
U zegt er genoegen in te scheppen om andere mensen te irriteren of zelfs te beledigen en dat allemaal vanwege de geschiedenis van uw land waar u noch de lezer van uw website persoonlijk deel aan hebben gehad. Ook kunt u niet nalaten provocerende teksten ten aanzien van de Europeanen in het algemeen en de Nederlanders in het bijzonder te plaatsen. Dat is spijtig en het zal zeker niet het door u gewenste effect hebben. Een man als Pramoedya vertelt hoe de geschiedenis inelkaar steekt zonder dat te doen. Ook hij is Javaan en werkelijk niet de eerste de beste.
Door de geschiedenis heen hebben volkeren andere volken overheerst, zo kwamen en gingen en lieten altijd sporen na. Dat is in de hele wereld gebeurd. Hun drijfveren waren uitbreiding van gebied (uit noodzaak soms om te overleven), macht. Ook wij zijn ‘recentelijk’ overheerst geworden door de Spanjaarden, de Fransen en de Duitsers. Die hebben we wel weer de deur uitgewerkt maar in geval van de Spanjaarden duurde dat ook 80 jaar! Om naar niet te spreken van nog vroegere overheersingen. En hoe kon het gebeuren dat een stelletje avonturiers uit de Nederlanden die met een paar gammele bootjes in Indonesia terecht kwamen om er handel te drijven er ten slotte in slaagden om de hele archipel te beheersen? Dat hebben ze nooit alleen voor elkaar gekregen, maar wel met behulp van de lokale vorsten. Want laten we wel zijn: die waren ook alleen maar uit op eigenbelang, voor henzelf en degenen die deel uitmaakten van hun hof. Zij beschermden de boerendorpen en kregen in ruil daarvoor mankracht, voedsel en andere goederen en als zij die niet kregen, eigenden zij zich die gewoon toe. Wat dat betreft verschillen die Javaanse vorsten niet van de vroegere vorsten van welke landen dan ook, het geldt in de hele wereldgeschiedenis. En natuurlijk, ze (de Javaanse vorsten) hadden een heel verfijnde cultuur, maar dan wel alleen aan hun hoven, voor de Javaanse petani is er door de eeuwen heen nooit wat veranderd, nog steeds niet, ondanks de Indonesische onafhankelijkheid. Kortom, de Nederlanders hebben gebruik gemaakt van de hebzucht en de verdeeldheid van de Javaanse adel om in dat land te kunnen heersen. Waarom dit zo lang heeft kunnen duren is mij een raadsel, maar dat zal ook wel te maken hebben gehad met het feodale systeem daar. Net als wij met de Spanjaarden hebben gedaan, hadden jullie ons er al veel eerder uit kunnen smijten, nietwaar? Uiteindelijk gaat ieder rijk ten onder aan zijn eigen arrogantie en onderlinge verdeeldheid, ook Mojopahit. Waarom nu juist uitgerekend de Europeanen de zee overtrokken en op een gegeven ogenblik veel kolonieen bezaten, weet ik ook (nog) niet. Misschien waren ze wel nieuwsgieriger en ondernemender dan de anderen. Ik heb ook gehoord dat de factor klimaat een rol hierbij heeft gespeeld. In ieder geval heb ik daar nog niet genoeg overgelezen. Men zegt dat Deepak Lal daarover schrijft in zijn boek: Unintended consequences, the impact of factor endowments, culture and politics on long-run economic performance’ , maar ik heb het nog niet gelezen. Het boek is erg duur (f. 175!).
Wat het Javaanse schrift betreft: ik heb nergens kunnen lezen dat de Nederlanders op een gegeven moment hebben besloten om Carakan te vervangen door het Latijnse alfabet. Javaans is een streektaal en die was te moeilijk om al voertaal tussen de internationale kustgemeenschappen te handhaven. Het rangen en standen Javaans is toen geleidelijk vervangen door Maleis, waarmee de handelaren aan de kusten beter uit de voeten konden (met kennis van ongeveer 500 woorden Maleis kon men zich al aardig redden). Men zegt dat iets dergelijks onze taal (het Nederlands) in de toekomst ook staat te wachten. De Engelse taal is min of meer de tweede taal hier en als enige buitenlandse taal verplicht op de middelbare scholen. Universiteiten geven colleges in Engels of overwegen dat te doen. Het aantal Engelse woorden in ons taalgebruik neemt alleen maar toe. Ik wil hiermee zeggen dat talen en handschriften verdwijnen, niet alleen in Indonesia. Gelukkig zijn er nog universiteiten waar ze nog worden bestudeerd en waar een enkeling de taal ‘levend’ houdt.
Zoals u ongetwijfeld weet kan in Leiden bijvoorbeeld Javaans gestudeerd worden. Ik heb verleden jaar nog een wayang kulit voorstelling bijgewoond die drie uur duurde. De dalang was een Nederlandse hoogleraar, zijn dalangopleiding heeft hij in Solo gehad. Ik kan niet anders zeggen dat die man het voortreffelijk deed. Er was een gamelan orkest bij van Indonesische ambassade te Den Haag.
Om te stellen dat Indonesia als gevolg van de Nederlandse overheersing als een arm land verder moet, omdat de Nederlanders het totaal hebben geplunderd vind ik overdreven. Ze hebben er ook wat achter gelaten aan infrastructuur, rechtspraak, organisatie, scholing en gezondheidszorg, voorzover door de Japanners in tact gelaten. Het had beter gekund? Ongetwijfeld, maar het moet wel worden bezien in het licht van die tijd waarin Europa ook met van alles en nog wat te kampen had en waarin er in Nederland beslist geen gelijkheid bestond voor alle inwoners zoals nu (op papier) en waarin armoede hoogtij vierde. In ieder geval hebben de verschillende corrupte regeringen van Indonesia er na de oorlog voor gezorgd dat het land failliet achterbleef. Als een dergelijk rijk land 50 jaar na zijn onafhankelijkheid nog arm is, geeft dat wel te denken.
Uw stelling dat Indonesiers menen dat alles wat blank is, beter is, en dat hun dat geleerd is, vind ik vreemd. Ik weet niet door wie hun dat is geleerd, maar als dat zo zou zijn, zat het er kennelijk al heel lang in. De poppen van het wayang golek spel hebben gekleurde gezichten, wit, rood, zwart. De gezichten van de ‘goede’ figuren zijn wit geverfd! Hetzelfde geldt voor de wit-zwarte blokjes van de kleding van de dansers op Bali, waar wit en zwart het goede en het kwade symboliseren.
Beste Mas Surya, u wilde een dialoog, een andere mening. Ik heb bewondering voor het werk dat u doet en besef wat voor moeilijkheden u daarbij ontmoet. Maar ga in vredesnaam uw website niet gebruiken voor provocaties en zeker niet voor gezeur over blank en zwart. Dat heeft u kennelijk meegekregen in de US, maar dat speelt in Indonesia helemaal niet. Het plaatst u persoonlijk in een hoekje van: ik ben zielig, de blanken hebben mij zoveel kwaad gedaan. Het is altijd nog zo dat je een eigen verantwoordelijkheid hebt.
Ik ben overigens zeer vereerd met uw verzoek om een artikel te schrijven, maar ik ben geen wetenschapper, waarover zou ik schrijven? Ik ben, net als u, bezorgd over de staat van de oudheden in Indonesia. Er is voor het onderhoud ervan geen belangstelling denk ik en dat is jammer. Die belangstelling van de kant van de Indonesiers is er nooit zo geweest. Indonesiers, inclusief de Javanen, zijn knappe kunstenaars. Onderhoud is echter niet hun sterkste punt. Ik ben bezorgd over de oude archieven die her en der wegrotten en over veel meer dingen waarvan de waarde (nog) niet wordt ingezien. Ik ben verdrietig over het feit dat er op Java geen vogels meer zijn, waar zijn ze gebleven de gelatiks, jalaks, rijstvogeltjes? Met goede maatregelen en zorg komen die vogels wel weer terug. Wij hebben hetzelfde gehad met de reigers, roofvogels, kikkers en sommige plantensoorten. Ik kan mij echter voorstellen dat er momenteel andere prioriteiten heersen in Indonesia en dat mensen met een lege maag geen belang hechten aan vogels of oude gebouwen/ documenten. Maar goed, mensen zoals u zouden dat kunnen oppakken.
Mas Surya, het is een lange brief geworden, maar ik heb er dan ook genoeg over nagedacht. Misschien niet interessant voor u, maar ik heb alleen maar armoede, angst en ellende gekend op Java. Desondanks is het mijn thuis.
Tot ziens Mas Surya,
salam hangat van
Tilly Blom, Delft
January 19, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Daar ben ik weer. Bent u de jaarwisseling Daar ben ik weer. Bent u de jaarwisseling doorgekomen zonder misselijk te worden van allerlei baksels (zoals oliebollen bij ons)?
Dank voor uw mailtje van 17/12, het is grappig om te weten dat u heimwee kunt krijgen naar dit kikkerland!
Weet U Mas Surya, ik heb na al het gedoe van de feestdagen eindelijk tijd gehad om te doen wat ik wilde doen om uw eerste uitgebreide mail te beantwoorden. Ik hoop dat u het goed vindt dat ik in het Nederlands schrijf, want volgens mij beheerst u die taal uitstekend en kunt u die althans goed lezen en begrijpen. Ik heb de ‘Nyanyian Angsa’ van Rendra gelezen vorige week en die begrijp ik ook best, maar vraag me niet om daarover te discussieren in BI baku!
Mas Surya, ik wil eerst even uitleggen hoe ik aan uw website gekomen ben. Ik heb op BI-les aan mijn guru gevraagd of ze de Jayabaya wilde behandelen of dat ze er tekst van had met uitleg in het Nederlands of Engels, want Hoogjavaans is voor mij niet te bevatten. Mijn guru had dat niet en ze beloofde ernaar te zullen zoeken. Aangezien ze zelf vreselijk druk is, ben ik toen maar op internet gaan kijken en bij toeval vond ik Pawartos Jawi met juist datgene dat ik zocht. Ik was zo blij en verrast ermee om te ontdekken dat nota bene in de US een Javaan zoveel moeite doet om zijn taal te promoten, een taal die mij zo vertrouwd in de oren klinkt. Mijn eerste woorden waren immers Javaanse, geleerd door mijn zeer geliefde verzorgster. Mijn moeder sprak vloeiend Javaans,mijn vader Madoerees. Toen kwam de oorlog en alles daarbij en op eens moesten wij op school BI leren: Pagi-pagi pukul enam saya bangung. Sayapun terus mandi. Ik was heel enthousiast maar dat bekoelde. Thuis kon ik het niet spreken want de bedienden en hun kinderen begonnen te lachen en verstonden er veel niet van.
Toen mijn man besloot om met vakantie naar Java te gaan, vond hij dat hij eerst maar eens een cursus BI moest gaan doen. Ik lachte en zei dat dit verloren tijd was omdat niemand het daar sprak. Maar ja, de tijd had natuurlijk niet stilgestaan en toen wij eenmaal op Java belanden ontdekte ik toch al spoedig dat ik het helemaal mis had. Bij terugkeer ben ik dus BI gaan leren. Ik kan nu gelukkig kranten op internet volgen en als ik in Indonesia ben kan ik mij behoorlijk redden. Maar goed, BI is geen Javaans en ik had al snel in de gaten dat het toch niet helemaal goed gaat met die taal daar. En dat is zo jammer.
Ik had dus de Jayabaya met uw vertaling gelezen, het artikel: ‘understanding the Javanese way of life ‘ en uw artikel over Carakan. Ik proefde daarin een beetje vijandige houding ten opzichte van de Nederlanders en later in uw lange mail ook ten opzichte van de Europeanen. Dat vond ik zo ‘onjavaans’, althans zo proefde ik dat, vooral ook na het lezen van uw eigen artikelen. Maar hoe leg ik dat nu uit? Ik ben geen geleerde. Natuurlijk valt er van alles en nog wat op ons aan te merken dat geef ik grif toe. Ik ben ook geen voorstander van kolonisering, maar wat doe je eraan als je wieg daar staat?
Verder ken ik u natuurlijk onvoldoende. In eerste instantie dacht ik: of die Mas Surya is een jonge man die de geschiedenis (nog niet of onvoldoende) kent, of hij is een oude man die onder het regime van de Nederlanders geleden heeft.
Ik ben toen gaan graven in mijn spullen en dook een interview op met Pramoedya Ananta Toer. Dat is toch een echte Javaan die behoorlijk wat ervaring en wijsheid heeft. Hij heeft prachtige boeken geschreven en het script voor een documentaire film: de grote postweg (Jalan Raya Pos). Die film bekijken we af en toe met veel plezier,het geeft Java prachtig weer.
In ieder geval Mas Surya, hierbij zend ik u een scan van dit artikel in de hoop dat alles goed aankomt. Ze moeten worden geopend in de volgorde: pram 1, 3, 2. Kebacut ik bij de volgorde van het scannen! Mocht het onleesbaar zijn, geef mij dan a.u.b. uw adres, dan zend ik u de copietjes toe.
Het artikel van Pram geeft alles zo helder weer dat ik het u graag laat lezen. En wat de instant koffie betreft: die was hier vroeger ook ‘in’ omdat het uit de US kwam. Nu drinken wij weer fijn gewone koffie en als ik op Java ben vraag ik kopi tubruk.
Trouwens, ik hoop zo dat President SBY het redt. Hij is volgens mij een wijs man en hij heeft wijsheid nodig bij het oplossen van zoveel problemen. En verder Mas Surya: wees niet somber hoor. Duik niet te diep in de geschiedenis. U kunt het toch niet veranderen en de huidige geschiedenis is ook al niet zo fraai. Such is life, toch? Probeer die mooie taal te redden. Uw Pawartos Jawi is indrukwekkend.
Groetjes en tot ziens in de mailbox,
Tilly, Delft
January 19, 2011 at 12:03 PM
Given your assertion that the Dutch was so cruel in Indonesia, how do you explain the fact that so many political refugees from Indonesia seek asylum in the Netherlands?
Roy, Amsterdam
January 20, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Dear Roy,
As for the imprisonment and oppression by the Indonesian government of its own citizens, I have spoken out against it many times. I am an equal opportunity critic. I tell the truth as I understand it, regardless of whom it offends. The Netherlands is not being ‘picked on’ by me. I am merely exposing its own history of colonial oppression as I have often exposed the transgressions of Indonesia.
All people of consent, including the Dutch, should join me in condemning the devastating effects of colonialism on the constituents of former colonies. Only by understanding the cultural, economic and psychological devastation can we hope to rise above it.
In response to your thesis, no, it does not surprise me in the least that a large percentage of political prisoners in Indonesia seek refuge in the Netherlands. It is a byproduct of the colonial legacy that the victims of colonial oppression often align themselves with their colonial masters.
In fact, the majority of refugees from East Timor are currently seeking refugee in Indonesia. Portugal is another common destination for the many suffering East Timorese. Such is the madness of the oppressed and downtrodden.
It may interest you to know that it is common for the oppressed in many diverse situations to identify themselves with their oppressors. Kidnap victims and hostages often end up identifying with their captors. One such famous case in America is the Patty Hearst Kidnapping, in which Ms. Hearst ended up participating enthusiastically in bank robberies to benefit the very people who had kidnapped her.
During the slave trades, many Africans worked with the Dutch (and other Europeans) to enslave other Africans. Many black Americans adopt White culture and support individual and institutional racism against themselves in the unspoken belief that White people are better and smarter. Malcolm X referred to this as “the slave mentality”.
As a person of color who grew up in the former colony of our White Dutch masters, I understand this mentality well. It is common in Indonesia to believe that the whiter you are, the better you are, and that White people are smarter and posses a superior culture. We did not invent these ideas on our own. We were taught.
For 350 years we were demoralized, abused and taught to devalue ourselves. And now the Netherlands tries to salve its conscience by accepting some Indonesian refugees. To contend that no wrong was ever done to Indonesia by the Netherlands is to ignore hundreds of years of devastation.
Indonesia, as the Majapahit Kingdom, was once a self-confident nation. It may never escape the colonial legacy instituted by the Dutch, English, Portuguese and others. We may never heal from our rape at the hands of our colonial White masters.
It is true that my remarks are irritating to people. And that is my fondest wish. I live to be an irritant. Just as a grain of sand irritates the shell of an oyster to eventually produce a pearl, if we are lucky, my remarks might irritate a thinking human being and thus produce an idea or greater understanding. At very least they have produced a dialogue, and that alone is worth being an irritant.
Best Regards,
Mas Surya, Yogyakarta
January 19, 2011 at 12:06 PM
What is the source of your loyalty to the feodal system (if I read you rightly)? Would YOU like to be an abdidalem?
Medeiros, USA
January 20, 2011 at 3:30 PM
Dear Mbah Landa [Medeiros],
As for my interest in the abdidalem and the palace, this should not be interpreted as support for feudal systems. While I do feel that some rulers have exercised their power with intelligence and concern for the welfare of their citizens, others were clearly despots. Democracy, too, can be exercised with justice or tyranny. Regardless of the “official” system of government, it is too often money that ends up making the decisions.
I’m not sure if it was Thomas Jefferson or John Quincy Adams (my knowledge of American history is somewhat spotty) who said that the best form of government would be the presence of a benevolent dictator. Ofcourse, if it was Jefferson, no doubt it was said more eloquently. Please forgive my digression. I do believe that there is no perfect form of government. And the levels of imperfection that human kind has suffered leaves me fondly musing over the prospects of anarchy. But then reality sets in and I once again resolve to make the best of whatever system I am under.
I do respect the abdidalem and the palace for having been the caretakers of Javanese culture. As previously mentioned, since money is too often responsible for governmental decisions, it is that much more important that we have people whose lives are dedicated to the preservation of those things of intangible value.
Salam, Surya
January 19, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Dear Mas Surya,
I was reading your discussion forum and many items are agressively written. They all contain a lot of truth, but some phrases are not that entirely correct and are just an escape from the reality. Phrases like “Since the Dutch raped our land, we have to struggle as a poor nation” and further on “For 350 years we were demoralized, abused and taught to devalue ourselves”.
But as you’ve said also “It may interest you to know that it is common for the oppressed in many diverse situations to identify themselves with their oppressors”. It is true that the Dutch colonisation was primarly a benefit for the Dutch people, but like I always say, it takes 2 to rumble. Dutch conquered, Indonesian had to accept, there was no choice. But they did not turn this bad situation into something good, they did not learn during these years how to make something good out of it. What they did was trying to become ‘white’, to become the same intellectual as the conquerers.
Let me compare this with a recent situation: Soeharto stole a lot of money from Indonesia, people let this happen, saying it is the will of God. But they did not do anything themselves to prevent this from happening. And that is why Soeharto kept taking money. If there is no reaction from the people, why not ? I would do exactly the same. Since a few years, people started to react, blaming Soeharto. Why not blaming themselves AND Soeharto ? Exercise: Change the name of Soeharto in “the Dutch”. Change the name of Indonesia in “East-timor” or any other suppressed nation in Indonesia.
Indonesians have to realise that they need to change, not by becoming ‘white’ or ‘western people’, but by accepting the errors they have made in the past and making them not to become real again: Stop the corruption, become democratic, accept that every human has its rights, treat everybody equal, share the economical richness of Indonesia between all Indonesians, and so on. This takes time !!! A change like that will only be peacefull if you give it a lot of time !!!
Look at any other nation that does have economical problems: either there is a civil war going on, or there is no democracy, or people live in an area not suited for living, or people are not ready for it. Western countries are not the cause, they only try to help (sometimes good help, sometimes bad help, but it is still help).
If you say “We may never heal from our rape at the hands of our colonial White masters”, it means that people don’t want to change. They won’t grow up, as with every nation that was once successfull, lost it and wants to become successfull again.
In conclusion:
I have never seen somebody becoming successfull, by blaming other people.
Dirk Vrancken, Belgium
January 20, 2011 at 3:34 PM
Dear Dirk,
Thank you for your thoughtful remarks. I would like to respond to your last remark first.You wrote, “I have never seen somebody becoming successful, by blaming other people.” I am not interested in blame. I am interested in an excavation of the truth. If an accurate and truthful understanding of history suggests blame, then so be it.
However, my interest is in understanding the history and culture of Indonesia with an emphasis on the Island of Java. If my interest were to blame, then I would have written my website in Dutch and called it ColonialEvils.com or some such name. By contrast, my website is directed primarily at the Javanese and is an attempt to help us understand ourselves better.
You wrote, “It is true that the Dutch colonisation was primarily a benefit for the Dutch people, but like I always say, it takes 2 to rumble”. It takes two to rumble? Are you suggesting that Indonesia is co-responsible with the Dutch for taking over its own land?
You go on to say, “Dutch conquered, Indonesian had to accept, there was no choice. But they did not turn this bad situation into something good, they did not learn during these years how to make something good out of it.” With all respect, this is an example of blaming the victim for the crime.
It is difficult for me to contain myself when faced with the assertion that Indonesians are at fault for not taking better advantage of the fact that their land was stolen from them, their government destroyed, their rights taken away, and they were turned into slaves in their own country. Do you really believe that we were supposed to make something good out of this? I am stunned by the suggestion that it is the responsibility of the victim to take good advantage of the crime that is being committed against him.
Do you blame the people of the Congo for not taking better advantage of the rape of their land, first by King Leopold II and later by your own government? They gave up their rights, their rubber, their freedom and self-determination and, in many cases, their lives, all for the wealth of your country. Won’t someone at least recognise these facts?
The thrust of your argument seems to be that Indonesians are responsible for allowing the Dutch and Suharto to dominate them. Naturally, the victims of tyranny should fight against the tyrants that oppress them. However, this does not mean that they should be blamed for the oppression. Most certainly Indonesia must take responsibility for its policies with regard to East Timor. The “scorched earth” policies of General Wiranto must be fully understood and the tacit acceptance of Indonesians for these policies must be seen and acknowledged by Indonesians. There must be no excuses.
I meant what I said about not being interested in blame. I do not believe that modern day Europeans should be blamed for the sins of their ancestors. Even in the present day, people are often unable, despite their best efforts, to change the policies of their governments. In most cases, blame is a useless exercise. So, you might ask why I am so emotional on this subjects and why am I so interested in getting people to own up to the truth. The reason is simple and not very original. Unless we admit to the truth of our past we will never improve our future. We must stop making the same costly mistakes. We must learn to live together in mutual respect. After apartheid fell in South Africa, Nelson Mandela tried first to a have a complete and honest search for the truth. In this policy there is great wisdom. Until Indonesians can look honestly at their history, human rights violations in East Timor, and our tacit complicity in all of the corruption and tyranny that has brought us to this point, we will never move beyond it. By the same token, Europeans must stop blaming their colonies for the tragedy of colonialism.
And so, I leave you with your own words, “I have never seen somebody becoming successful, by blaming other people.”
Respectfully,
Mas Surya
January 19, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Dear Surya,
In respond to your question: “Do you really believe that we were supposed to make something good out of this?”: Yes, I really believe this. The Dutch conquered Indonesia and abused its resources for many decades. This is a fact which can not be changed. It is a part of Indonesian history and has to be accepted. There are 2 ways to deal with this. If something bad happens to you, you can go sitting in the corner and feel sorry for yourself or you can learn from it.
Of course Indonesia is not to blame because of the selfish conquest of the Dutch people. What my biggest concern is and I believe also yours, is this: What did they both learn from it ? That is why we have made our websites. Writing down the Javanese history, talking about its history, learning from it. Like you said: “my website is directed primarily at the Javanese and is an attempt to help understand ourselves better”.
People should live in the present, finding solutions to their problems in a peacefull way. They should learn from the past, understand it and use it for the best. They should plan a good future, so that their children will have a good live. The future of Indonesia lies in Indonesia as one country. Look at the objective of President Wahid: “First, I would like to be known as someone who returned Indonesia to the rule of law, with freedom of expression and accountability of the government. Second, I would like to be seen as the person who preserved the territorial integrity of Indonesia. Third, I would like to be the one who returns Indonesia to economic normality. In the past we forgot about the little people; we just helped the big cronies.”
Do not expect that when talking about this, the next morning the problem is solved. Becoming an successfull nation that has its own culture, its own way of living, its own identy and not being a copy of any other nation is the biggest challenge of Indonesia. Do not the same as so many other countries, who desperately followed the ideas of America. Be yourself, explore your nation and find all the good stuff in it.
Like you said: “Unless we admit to the truth of our past, we will never improve our future. We must stop making the same costly mistakes. We must learn to live together in mutual respect. ” That is something people have to remember always.
If not, and I will conclude with a phrase from TIME magazine: “…Otherwise we will get sucked backward into the dark old ways of corruption and nepotism that have become so deeply entrenched in Indonesia.”
Dirk, Belgium
January 20, 2011 at 3:38 PM
Dear Dirk,
This latest email seems to me to be different in tone than your first. I find that I agree with much of what you said and that you appear in your use of my quotes to be agreeing with much of what I said. The one point on which there still seems to be a major disagreement is the point at which Indonesians should be able to resurrect themselves. You appear to contend that Indonesians ought to have been able to make something good of their lives at the time of the colonial conquest. I contend that when one is reeling as a result of a rape, that the best one can do is survive. After the crime has been committed against you, it takes time to pull yourself together and move forward and improve your life. For example: the descendants of African slave in America are still struggling to put their lives together.
It is unrealistic to have expected them to become a glowing success during the period at which they were forced to tend the field. I am not sure how they could have made something good out of their period of slavery. The best they could do is to survive with as much of themselves and their culture intact as possible. In other word, to live to fight another day. This is what survivors of abused and raped do. And this is what Indonesia has done. Certainly since independence, Indonesia has been on a rapid track toward development and self-realization. Our current President Wahid, for whom I have significant respect, is the latest in our steps toward recovery.
Sometimes even the heartiest of people need to “sit in the corner and feel sorry” for themselves immediately following a devastating attack. It takes a few minutes before one can gather the resources to move on and “makes something good out of this”. It is particularly galling to hear the descendants of European colonialist tell us to stop sitting around and feeling sorry for ourselves. One would hope to receive a more understanding tone.
Respectfully,
Mas Surya
January 19, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Hello Mas Surya,
Here a reaction of mine (and from Fred Eiseman B. Junior) about the hanacaraka.
I don’t know much about the Java script, but I know that it is different from the Balinese script. Certainly the characters that are shown on the page you suggested are quite different than those Balinese use.
I don’t think it is accurate to say, as the author did, that the Balinese use the same script as the Javanese do. I also think that it is totally inaccurate to accuse the Dutch of a sort of conspiracy to eliminate this part of Balinese culture. Historically, it is well known that the Dutch did exactly the opposite – tried to encourage Balinese culture so that it would attract tourists- and money.
Balinese script, and I suspect Javanese script too, have largely disappeared for the simple reason that it is about as useful to young Balinese people as learning Egyptian or Mayan hieroglyphics. Or studying integral calculus. Or learning how to speak Urdu. Remember that Balinese script is a required course in all public schools in Bali. So kids have a chance to learn it. The fact that they don’t simply means that they don’t find it to be relevant to the 21st century. It doesn’t mean that the Dutch Colonialists committed some wicked deed by robbing the locals of part of their culture.
With Regards
Ed Vos, Netherlands
January 20, 2011 at 3:43 PM
Dear Ed vos and Mbah Landa/Medeiros,
Well, I don’t want to be accused of being “beastly to the Dutch” or anyone else for that matter. I am really more like the ‘beauty’ than the ‘beast’ : ). Perhaps my shocking lack of diplomacy toward some of my correspondents can be explained thusly.
The Indonesian people continue to suffer from low self-esteem and perceived inferiority when compared to their former colonial masters. It isn’t simply that this makes Indonesians unhappy. It’s that it causes us to devalue ourselves, our culture, and, most importantly, our future. Yes, I do attribute this directly to the colonial legacy. There is no way I can sugar-coat this for my sensitive European’s brothers and sisters. There is no way to say it diplomatically. Indonesians were taught to see themselves and their culture as less valuable than those of their colonial masters.
It has been accurately pointed out that the Indonesian aristocracy had an equal role in the demise of the Carakan alphabet and many other acts of cultural suicide. True. But what enabled or percipitated the Javanese aristocracies to adopt Western things and Western values? Those of you who really know the Javanese mindset know that the upper class tries to align itself with Europe because it perceives Europe as superior. To this day, upper class Indonesian trip all over themselves to look Western. They build European style houses and serve Nescafe instant coffee to guests and they regard European culture and language as superior to their own. This shame in themselves is tragic and culturally crippling. And it is the result of the colonial legacy. Certainly, Indonesia had no such sense of cultural inferiority prior to being conquered and subdued by Europeans. Some of my European corespondents have suggested that this is our own fault. The gist of their argument seems to be why are we doing this to ourselves? To answer that question, I would like you to briefly consider America.
It has been a great education for me to live in the United States of America and learn about the struggles of African – Americans to put behind them the destruction of slavery. After hundreds of years of slavery, and a little more than a hundred years of legal freedom from slavery, it is only since the1960s that African-Americans have begun to look at the cultures of Africa as valuable and a source of pride. This is both a lesson and a reason for Indonesians to be encouraged.
All over the world, people who have been conquered and subdued display substantially the same symptoms. In India, South Africa, Latin America and also among Native – Americans in the U.S. the pattern is virtually identical. They devalue themselves and their own culture. Some of the oppressed collaborate with their oppressors. And only after years of struggle do they begin again to view themselves and their culture with pride.
Why does it bother me so much when Europeans say that it is our fault that we have abandoned our culture and turned to the West for an identity? It is not that I am looking for guilt or apologies from the Dutch. I have heard both guilt and apologies before from Europeans and, really, I couldn’t care less. I am looking for something far less costly yet far more valuable than an apology. I am looking for the truth and mutual respect. When one blames the victim for the crime, one is offering neither truth nor respect.
Enough editorializing. Now for the facts of the case.
I read and write the alphabet and both languages fluently and I wish to assure you that the basic letterforms of ancient Javanese and Balinese are the same, almost without exceptions. The Balinese letterforms look a bit Italicized in terms of font style when compared to Javanese. The Javanese alphabet is a model of efficiency. It is easier to read and write Javanese and Balinese in their original alphabet. For example, to write just 2 letters in Javanese can require as many as 9 letters in the Latin alphabet.
The idea that we adopted the Latin alphabet because it was better or more “relevant” for Indonesians is incorrect. The decision was made in the middle of the 19th century before our current global economy. In that time period, being able to read and write one’s own language efficiently must have seemed to Indonesians highly relevant. The change to the Latin alphabet was substantially for the purpose of helping the Dutch make money. In our current global economy the Latin alphabet probably does have more utility. However, when the decision was made in the 19th century, that was not the case.
This decision to adopt the cumbersome Latin alphabet was a contributing factor in the steady decline of the use of Javanese. We have now reached the sorry state of affairs where most Javanese cannot read and write in their own language. It would be wrong to suggest that the Dutch are solely responsible for this. That would be a grotesque over statement. However, it would also be inaccurate not to acknowledge colonialism as a contributing factor in the decline of this beautiful and irreplaceable language.
No, it was not a Dutch conspiracy to destroy Javanese culture. It was a carefully conceived plan to exploit Java in whatever way necessary to make money for the Netherlands. You said that “Historically, it is well known that the Dutch did exactly the opposite – tried to encourage Balinese culture so that it would attract tourists- and money.” That is exactly right. Whenever preservation helped the Dutch make money, they preserved. And whenever destruction helped the Dutch make money, they destroyed. Their principal purpose was to make money. Again, I don’t know of any way to say this sweetly so as not to offend Europeans. Would it help if I acknowledge that a small percentage of Europeans did take active steps to preserve our culture for no reason other than that they understood its value? Would it also help if I remind you that I do not hold any currently living European responsible for any of this? Perhaps I should also write some essays on the past and present mistakes of Indonesia. Allah knows we have made more than our share.
Yours respectfully,
Mas Surya
January 19, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Mas Surya, don’t be so beastly to the Dutch.
Medeiros, USA
January 19, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Mas Surya,
Understanding the death of the Javanese culture is one of my pet projects that I’ve been trying to put into a book for a long time. Let me share some of my observations here.
Your assertion that the Dutch killed Javanese culture is totally inaccurate. I personally think that Indonesian nationalism as well as the underlying Anti Javanese sentiment killed the Javanese culture. Historically, even though Javanese was spoken by more people in the archipelago, most of those people resided in the Island of Java itself, whereas Malay, the lingua franca which became the basis for Indonesian language was spoken in more area. With the rise in education, organization, during the Ethical period early in the Twentieth Century, Malay became the language of choice among the educated few because most of them didn’t want to use Dutch and yet they cannot use their local language to communicate with some of their brethrens from the other islands. As the result, this totally inadequate lingua franca became the default national language.
The use of Latin script in Bahasa Indonesia actually was more the contribution of the Indos -those who were of mixed parentage. Most of these Indos were of Dutch fathers and native mothers. Most of these Indos were well educated by the standard then. Most of them had at least a MULO, post primary school, education. Because their mothers reared them, most of the Indos also spoke local dialects as well as Dutch that they learned in school. Most of the newspapers prior to 1920’s were started by these Indos. They used the Malay in their newspapers since they saw other Indos primarily as their readerships. During that time, early 20th Century, in Malaya and Sumatra where Malay was predominant, Malay itself was written in Arabic scripts (Arab kembangan). However, because most of these Indos were not Muslims, the use of Arabic scripts was not favored. Thus, it came to be that Bahasa Indonesia, an eastern language, is written in Latin alphabet.
During the National Youth Congress – Sumpah Pemuda, on October 28, 1928, when the ferver of nationalism was at its peak, the youth delegation agreed to push for the use of the Malay which will then be known as Bahasa Indonesia. The problem that I discovered during my research for a book that I am still trying to write is that during this Youth Congress, there was a clear Anti Javanese Sentiment abound. The name of the country itself for example was originally proposed to be Nusantara, but to many of the delegates from the other islands, the word Nusantara reminded them so much os the domination of the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit during the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century. There was even a thought of calling the country Dipantara, which was an even older name originated with the Kingdom of Kediri also of Java. The name that was finally agreed upon was Indonesia, which is of English origin, matching perfectly with all of the other islands groups in the Pacific, such Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, etc.
Suppossedly, the group which pushed for the use of the name of Indonesia were dominated by those students who had recently returned from their studies in The Netherlands under scholarships from the colonial government. In addition, the influence of the old folks from Indische Party such as Suwardi Suryaningrat, Douwes Dekker, Dr. Sutomo, etc., could not be discounted. Unfortunately, the Javanese voice during this meeting was not united. In fact, many of the representatives of the Javanese were splintered into the respective organizations to which they belonged such as Jong Java. Notably absent from such an important gathering was the most important figure for Indonesian independence, Soekarno himself. He was jailed from 1927 to 1929 in the Sukamiskin Jail near Bandung. Would Soekarno had been able to congeal the Javanese consensus opinion? Only history knows. The absence of such an important figure during such an important nationalist gathering made me wonder if the colonial government allowed the congress to take place precisely because Soekarno himself couldn’t be there.
Another curious thing I discovered on my research is on the name Nusantara itself. If it is true that it originated during the Majapahit era, during the Fourteenth and Fiteenth Centuries, then the meaning of the word Nusantara itself could only be islands between two continents if those of Majapahit already knew of the existence of Terra Australis Incognito long before the Dutch sailors sited that unknown southern land during the Sixteenth Century.
Another self-inflicted death blow to the Javanese culture came about after Indonesian independence. While we all know of the contributions of the Sultan Hamengku Buwono and Sri Paku Alam of Yogya to the nationalist cause, very little is spoken about what happened in Solo. The two royal houses in Solo were in fact not so supportive of the independence movement. Sunan Paku Buwono was ambivalent about the whole situation and practically sat out during the entire war for independence. Mangku Negara, on the other hand, was out and out pro Dutch. Solo was the acknowledged center of Javanese culture before Indonesian independent. However, after the war for independence was over, while Yogyakarta was designated as Special Territory, Solo was absorbed totally by the Province of Central Java, thus making it less important. Solo was in fact punished because its leaders made the wrong choice. Not until Suharto became president did there was a move to resurrect Solo as a cultural center, but is it too late? Suharto’s wife, of course, was an abdidalem from Mangku Negaran.
Jono Hardjowirogo
Publisher, ACM Press Books and Journals
ACM, Inc.
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
(212) 626-0665
January 20, 2011 at 3:48 PM
Dear Mas Jono,
You claim I asserted that “the Dutch killed Javanese Culture”. First of all, Javanese culture is not dead. I grew up in a home where people spoke Javanese and cherished their culture and traditions. Javanese culture has certainly changed–perhaps ‘declined’ is not to strong a word. Despite this, more than a hundred million Javanese people, of whom I am one, are the living embodiment of contemporary Javanese culture. To paraphrase Mark Twain, the rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated.
Secondly,I never said that the Dutch killed Javanese culture. I would never ascribe such ‘single handedness’ to the influence of the Dutch. I said, “they have no doubt contributed to the increasing distance between the youth of Indonesia and their own culture” (see Carakan)–a fact that your own research corroborates beautifully. By way of example, you wrote, “Most of these Indos were of Dutch fathers and native mothers”. They “spoke local dialects as well as Dutch that they learned in school.” “They used the Malay in their newspapers since they saw other Indos primarily as their readerships”, “… Indos were not Muslims …” “Thus, it came to be that Bahasa Indonesia, an eastern language, is written in Latin alphabet.” How can you not see this string of facts as evidence that the Dutch and Colonialism have “contributed” to the decline of Javanese culture?
I will continue with your own facts.
About the National Youth Congress of 1928 you wrote, “the group which pushed for the use of the name of Indonesia were dominated by those students who had recently returned from their studies in The Netherlands under scholarships from the colonial government.” At the congress, “The name that was finally agreed upon was Indonesia, which is of English origin …” Are these unrelated coincidences? How can you look at your research and avoid the obvious truth? Surely your own facts support my understanding of the effects of colonialism more eloquently than anything I could say to you. Let me throw in a few connections of my own for you to consider. The 1928 National Youth Congress which, according to you, occurred “when the ferver of nationalism was at its peak”, was taking place in the midst of a great struggle for independence from our colonial masters. Can you see the connection between the struggle for independence and the attempt on the part of some Indonesians to unify? I believe that the congress can only be truly understood in the light of this fact. While Java had for many centuries been the governing power in Nusantara, it was the Dutch who held power during that 1928 Congress you cited. When the elite of Indonesia were controlled by the Dutch, doing business with the Dutch, punished by the Dutch, educated by the Dutch, literally and figuratively in bed with the Dutch, does it surprise you that Indonesians might favour European culture, the Latin Alphabet and the European-approved name of ‘Indonesia’?
Colonialism is like the preverbal elephant sitting in the middle of the room that no one wants to speak about. They might comment on the smell of the elephant or notice how small the room seems. But no one is willing to look the elephant straight in the eye and call it what it is. Gajah di pelupuk mata tidak tampak, kunang di seberang lautan kelihatan. I have no doubt that you have uncovered many interesting facts about Javanese culture. I look forward to reading your book. Facts are useful tools when their relevance is understood. Unless you begin to understand the profound effects the Dutch and colonialism had on the decline of Javanese culture, your book will be incomplete.
Respectfully,
Mas Surya
January 20, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Mas Surya,
Granted, colonialism did alter the history of the world not only in Java and Indonesia. Javanese culture is of course not dead and thanks to hardy soul like yourself, we may yet see a resurgence of this great culture. My sincere apology for even using the term Death of a culture. Long live Javanese culture! For the sake of this discussion, we have to separate what is cultural from what is political. This is often hard to do because they are often intertwined.
Though politically the Dutch did reshape the history of the archipelago, during their 350 years stay, nevertheless Javanese culture itself bloomed. It was in fact flourishing beautifully during the last half of the Nineteenth through the early part of the Twentieth Centuries. Literary geniuses like Ronggowarsito or even my own Mbah Canggah Ki Padmosusastro wrote many beautiful works. Some of them graced your own http://www.sabdabathara.wordpress.com pages. All of these accomplishments were possible because there was no attempt to stifle regional culture. In all fairness, the Dutch was probably promoting this “separatism” to make it easier for them to control the archipelago.
After independence, the Indonesian government tried to instill the idea unity through diversity or Bhinneka Tungal Ika. Unfortunately, I think that its attempt has somehow accomplished the exact opposite – it actually killed diversity for the sake of unity. Regional cultures, like Javanese, ended up being sacrificed for a new mixed-matched “national culture” that has direction and no tradition.
Those of us who were products of the Indonesian system of education can attest to the fact that it was in fact easier to study English, French, or German, than it was to study any of the regional languages such as Javanese or Sundanese. Studying any of those regional languages in school was never an option. As a nation which is still trying to forge its national identity, regionalism is not encouraged at all. The system was always trying to instill this sense of “national culture.” To build a sense of cameraderie, we were taught songs from other regions, songs like “O Ina ni Keke” or “Angin Mamiri” – though even our teachers were never sure of their meanings. There was no attempt to build any tradition behind the “national culture.” Over fifty years after the Indonesian independence, the “national culture” remains a culture without tradition, a hollow culture indeed. This decline of regional culture is not only faced by the Javanese, I think that every culture in the archipelago is facing the same predicament. Looking at this decline of regional cultures throughout the archipelago as a whole, it almost looked like witnessing cultural genocide in a massive scale!
So, on one hand, we saw the Dutch trying to promote separatism by allowing cultural growth among the many “tribes”, while on the other, we see the Indonesian government trying discourage regionalism to create a “national culture.” The first is evil politically and the later evil culturally. Historically, there was never unity among all the local kingdoms. So, fightings between regions were common. Factions of the same family often split to create new dynasties. During the Sixteenth Century, when Sultan Agung was trying to kick the Dutch out of Batavia many of the other rulers including some of his own relatives were busy aligning themselves with the Dutch. In the Ketoprak stage of Javanese history, the Dutch simply became another player. This disunity predated the Dutch and the Muslim spice traders. It probably even predated the Hindu/Buddhist civilizations as well. The Dutch simply took advantage of pre-existing discord.
Sampun,
Jono, New York
January 19, 2011 at 12:28 PM
Dear Mas Jono,
Yes, that is an excellent and insightful analysis of how the search for the national identity and the politics behind it have diminished our regional cultures. One of the saddest miscalculations in all of this is the belief that by abandoning ourselves we can embrace a larger whole. In fact, it would have served Indonesia well had we strengthened our own cultural identity, while learning respect for all of the other provinces and their unique characters. Leave it to bureaucrats to find the furthest distance between two points.
It is our job today to lobby the government to set indigenous languages and cultural traditions on the educational agenda for the next century. We should take great hope in the work that Israel has done in reviving the once dead language of the Hebrews. The Jews have taught the world that it is not too late to resuscitate an ailing language.
When I visit the Kongres Basa Jawi next summer, it will be my principal goal to encourage the delegates to use all of their influence to cause the government to strengthen the teaching of Javanese and other indigenous languages. As you know, the current system gives only perfunctory efforts in the teaching of these languages. As you mentioned in your email, much greater effort is placed on the teaching of European languages and, of course, English.
While I do not wish that the government diminish its educational efforts in these foreign languages, I believe there is room in the GBPP curriculum for indigenous languages. Surely, anything that strengthens our cultural identity will strengthen the nation. Also, Javanese is the most sublime and ineffably beautiful language I know. I weep at the thought that so many of my good sisters and brothers do not know how to speak the Javanese language.
If you have any ideas that will help reverse the current cultural decay, I would love to hear them. And it would be my privilege to present them at the conference on your behalf.
Sincerely, Mas Surya
January 19, 2011 at 12:30 PM
I wonder, Mas Surya, if you ever asked yourself where the original Javanese religion; Kedjawen, culture, language and writing has gone to? With all respect to you and your material on these matters, I must correct you as a Javanese on these very delicate matters.
You know as well as I do that we, Bongso Djowo, ourselves were the ones that destroyed our own very beloved religion, culture, language and writing that were given to us by the almighty creator; GUSTI. We let the Hindu-religion,-culture, language and writing already integrate in our lives some 2000 years ago. It got even worse didn’t it?
The Islam and later the Dutch did the rest. We are mostly a copy of the Hindu people, and later the Islamic people in my opinion. Every time I come across websites like yours, it really hurts me to see that these brilliant souls live on lies that has been around on Djowo-island for 2000 years. So ask yourself, what is your origin? Because your origin is your fundament. The evidence are scattered everywhere on that beautiful island of ours. But most of you can’t see the truth behind them. Why must we Bongso Djowo lower ourselves to other religions, cultures, languages and writings which originated in other countries. History has shown us, for those who can see and accept the truth, that the integration of Hindu and Islam etc. has destroyed mostly of our original religion, culture, language, writing and ourselves. We were the stupid ones.
But there is still hope, because the original Javanese religion Kedjawen, with the original kitab Djojobojo, language and writing is still among true Javanese people. You can’t find it on Java anymore. Because the very Islamic corrupted policies on Java doesn’t allow the truth. Those who tried payed with their life. But times are changing rapidly. Maybe you already encountered one of us in the Indonesian media. Kedjawen opened my eyes which also enabled me to see the truth and nothing but the truth.
Moho kuwoso Gusti, engkang paring sedantenipon dumateng kawulo.
Peter van Kan, Netherlands
jswarsosemito@hetnet.nl
January 20, 2011 at 3:56 PM
Dear Mas Peter,
I too, have great respect for Kedjawen. It would serve us well to learn from our ancient past as you have suggested. There are, however, two points of yours on which I would comment. Before I go into our disagreements, let me say that I rejoice that you have found great strength in Kedjawen and that it has opened your eyes. I also find it a source of great enlightenment and I include its truth in my own spiritual life. I draw a distinction between those elements of “outside influence” (or “corruption” if you prefer) that have changed our culture and those elements that, at present, destroy our egos and lowered our self-esteem. Allow me to sight serveral examples that I hope will make those murky sentences a little clearer.
Perhaps the best illustrations can be found in nature. Natural forest fires are devastating to the forest shortly after the event. In time the fire is seen as the agent through which forests grew and replenished themselves. Fires are a crucial part of the history of any forest if they are allowed to occur naturally. Similarly, physical exercise actually destroys muscle. But it is through the rebuilding of that muscle that the body strengthens itself. Likewise, volcanoes bring with them the same properties of destruction and growth. The land is made fertile in their wake. There are countless examples of this process in ourselves and in the world around us, and so it with history and culture.
I have no doubt that the coming of the Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims to Djowo unleashed a great cultural catastrophe in their day. However, after millennia, their presence has enriched us. I cannot imagine Indonesia without the influence of Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims. At this point, they are as much a part of Djowo as Kedjawen. Can you imagine Djowo without Prambanan and Borobudur? No culture remains stagnant. We never have lived in a little protective bubble. Everywhere in the world peoples influence each other and, eventually, enrich the cultures they touch.
I have no doubt that the same will be true of the current devastation in the aftermath of European colonialism. At present, we are living in its destruction. We have lost ourselves to its power. We feel inferior to it and powerless to find our own path. I am certain that in time the presence of the Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and others will be seen as new layers of richness. But in the meantime, we have a lot of work to do.
I do not believe that we must shed outside influences in order to understand ourselves better. I would relate this belief to Kedjawen in the following way. As we cannot, and probably should not, avoid outside influences, the secret to our success lay in our having sufficent self-confidence to look to our own culture and traditions for answers. We must not abandon ourselves in the belief that the best answers are always to be found elsewhere.
The second point I would like to make is a very personal one. Religion is too often proprietary. God, which Hindus call Krishna, owns no more or less truth then God, which Kedjawens call Gusti. In my humble opinion (I’m not humble very often, so pay attention), Gusti is Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. He is Enlightenment to the Buddhists, Yahweh to the Jews, and Allah to the Moslems. These are simply different names for the same great spiritual truth. You are free to disagree as the religious of every sort so often do.
I am a Hindu because Hindu has great meaning for me. However, I learn and am enlightened by all religions because they are all thirsting after the same Truth. In Kedjawen, one finds great truth and wisdom and I rejoice in your devotion to it. However, I do believe that there is room for the rest of us on the Island of Djowo.
Respectfully,
Mas Surya
January 19, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Dear brother Peter and mas Surya,
I am glad to see you both to discuss about Javanese in this e-mail. Before continuing, I say frankly that my English is not perfect like yours. So, I am sorry.
If we talk about Javanese (culture, religion, language etc), actually we talked the same thing with the Greek. Before the Christ, the Greek had its own religion, philosophy, culture etc. In the philosophical life, it was said that the Greek like a big river. But since the Christ came to Europe, this river became 3 small rivers in 750 A.D. namely West Europe, The Greek-Orthodox in Constantinople, Arabic-Islam in Spain or Andalusia. But after Renaissance, these three rivers of life became “one” again. And the result is the modern Europe, or Modern Western. This modern West, finally, conquered Asia, Africa and America.
The original Java, of course, lived before the millennia of the Christ. And this kind of culture we can see in Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, and Thailand. Even Japanese people said that their old ancestor was influenced by Javanese. I just watched TV about the dance with its story like JAKA TARUB in Japan. So since the coming of Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, and Christian, of course, Java was influenced by them. Javanese itself is not devastated today. But this original teaching was in contact each other. There is a process to build a new Java. And this process is on our shoulders.
Thank you very much.
Wassalam,
Chodjim, Jakarta
January 19, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Halo Mas Surya yang sangat saya hormati,
(Terima kasih atas ajakan ikut latihan pencak silat di sini.) Tetapi tulisan Modern Balinese and Modern Javanese ARE the same. Also Modern Sundanese (with additional symbols). Mungkin terdapat minor differences in writing style atau ductus, but they’re the same.
Don’t let’s always be so beastly to the Dutch. They invented and produced the type for the Indonesian languages–beautiful typefaces, too, very sensitive to the calligraphic opportunities. Otherwise there’d have been no printing of these languages. I think after the World War II the available printing resources couldn’t handle the free information explosion, and it was easier to go Latin.
This will give you an idea of the atmosphere of perceived oppression–or mau sama mau–as expressed in the sastra “adiluhung” of the 1700’s and 1800’s:
Mijil (Babad Krama Dalem)
Para tamu sukeng tyas anuli,
sagung para mipro,
samya dhangsah lan para tuwane,
rame gendhingnya salin sumalin,
yen capeg gya brenti,
linariyan nginum.
Sukeng driya kang samya ningali,
solahing pra mipro,
apepanthan lir leyek lagune,
uga lir rante kanthen asteki,
wudharira salin,
jejodhon rinangkul.
Lambungira miprone ngreketi,
agulet pupunton,
isthanira lir ngliling sutane,
obah jongga gung amanjer liring,
miprone ngesemi,
keketing pangrangkul.
Dhandhang Gula (Serat Babad Giyanti)
Tedhakira kangjeng kang siniwi,
pra prajurit kumpeni lan jawa,
urmat drel atri swarane,
sinauran mriyem gung,
mengenturan anggegeteri,
slompret tambur musikkan,
suling bendhe barung,
munggang kodhok ngorek ngangkang.
cara balen pradongga munya ngerangin,
horeg wong sanagara.
Mijil (Wiwahan Dalem)
Kalihira sawusing ngabekti,
jeng gusti gya miyos,
ngirid tuwan risdhen lan garwane,
tatabeyan samya sung basuki,
kang tumuntur wuri,
pra nyonyah kumrubut.
Myang pra tuwan samya sung basuki,
majeng gentos-gentos,
yen ginagas kadi ta anggane,
pra jawata lawan pra apsari,
tumurun sasanti,
mring kang sampun dhaup.
Asmarandana (Serat Sri Karongron)
…Dene malem Jumungah,
kanca musikan malebu,
neng panggung Songga Buwana.
Munya lagon solan-salin,
Katriya Sekoltis Polkah,
Mares Pasre, Dubledanse,
Galop Pantasi Krispolkah,
pan dhe Katermasokah,
Opisir Prademares sru,
Wales kapyarseng mandrawa.
Lamun wus jam rolas muni,
musikan kendel bibaran.
I’m NOT trying to EXCUSE colonization, but just haltingly to intimate that it was more complex and touching and interesting than that.
Sorry, dan hormat saya,
Medeiros, USA