Back in Indonesia, where the taxi drivers have no change, everything is done to make life impossible for pedestrians, and nothing quite works. Could AusAid design a training program for Southeast Asian plumbers ("what's an S-bend?')? Big wrap to Singapore Airlines for the last-minute upgrade, if only Qantas had more leg room, Singaporean efficiency and a frequent flyers program that didn't off-load people to the budget carrier!
It struck me yesterday what an inspired move it was designing a research project that primarily involved hanging around bookshops, pity the project finishes so soon. It's interesting to see in the Yogya bookshops (the ubiquitous Gramedia, and the wonderful Social Agency) just how much the 'Javanese' sections have grown. One expects the large Islam sections, although they are getting more and more diverse, but there is obviously a strength of interest here in central Java in practices that might at best be called heterodox. Came across an excellent characterisation of self-classifications amongst Javanese Muslims from the north coast in Mudjahirin Thohir's book Orang Islam Jawa Pesisiran, which has a much more nuanced version of the old santri vs abangan dichotomy, and put in the context of political affiliation and long-term changes going on in Java. There is obviously a lot of good work being done by Indonesian Muslim scholars...
And here I'd include the new book by Nor Huda, Islam Nusantara: Sejarah Social Intelektual Islam di Indonesia, one of the most comprehensive studies I've seen on the subject. The downside of the plurality of Indonesian Islam in the bookshops is the continual selling of racist garbage such as the Protocols of the Elders of Zion (co-sold with Henry Ford's rant against Jews). Gramedia does a line in Jihad Dvds as well.
The bookshops, especially Gramedia near the UGM campus, have big G-30S sections, that's obviously not going away as a topic of interest. Interesting also is the series of historical novels on Gajahmada by Langit Kresna Hariadi, who, according to his bionotes, is a DJ and journalist. They are in the bestseller sections, and have been much reprinted. These books look like a complete recounting of the history of such events as the Perang Bubat. I'd already seen mention of these on the 'Jay adalah Julian' blog, but didn't realise how big they are (I suppose the main question is whether this is again a Central Javanese thing, since Majapahit is on the nose in some parts of the archipelago).
Comments
Pak Adrian.
Some interesting note that you raised about Majapahit. I was sitting in a major Batik store in Yogya when I realized that what people are trying to cherished or realistically preserved there is probably a fraction of what Mataram Kingdom used to be.
As you know, despite its roots in Eastern Java, the last remnants of Mataram are the Solo and Yogya 'kingdoms'. But in Eastern Java, the 'old' sentiment of who they were are still strong, if I may say.
Many east javanese refused to be associated with the 'center of javan culture' in Yogya. Instead they would prefer to cherished the egalitarian cultures that unfortunately also came from the trades culture of Mataram.
One simple sign is to look at the popular culture in Surabaya. The traditional culture despite sharing similar roots with Yogya culture, in my view is so distinct.
Just my two cent.
(Perhaps we can arrange a discussion about this either in Sydney or Jakarta or Surabaya).
Posted by: Ari Poespodihardjo | September 18, 2008 03:21 AM
You have been to many areas in indonesia..gosh i wish i have the change to travel as much as you do...congrats
Posted by: Bali Tour Guide | August 10, 2007 10:32 AM
woww...I miss Social Agency!
the pic's brought a blast from the past.
thx
Posted by: grethy | July 28, 2007 09:30 PM