Dentist preserves Javanese scripts<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post\/Kediri<\/p>\n
With precision, Sutjahjo Gani, a dentist by profession,
\nrearranges the books in his library. The task is a nightly one
\nthat he takes great pleasure in.<\/p>\n
Even though the books, of which there are thousands, are old,
\nthey are in mint condition.<\/p>\n
The books have not been rebound, though they have been read
\nover and over again -- but only by a select group.<\/p>\n
The truth is that not everybody can read them as they were
\nwritten in Javanese. Some were even written using the Javanese
\ncharacters, Hanacaraka.<\/p>\n
\"My job is to preserve Javanese literature so that it won't be
\nforgotten. I hope to preserve these books so that they can be
\nenjoyed by many people,\" Sutjahjo told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The book collection was passed on to Sutjahjo by its owner,
\nTan Khoen Swie, a publisher of Javanese literature, who in 1953
\nestablished a publishing company on Jl. Dhoho, Kediri, East Java.<\/p>\n
At that time the company was called Boekhandelen
\nSchryfbehoeften (which literally means book shop in Dutch) Tan
\nKhoen Swie. The company was the only one publishing Javanese
\nliterature at that time.<\/p>\n
A Javanese literature publisher in Kudus, Kwa Giok Djing,
\nconfirmed the matter.<\/p>\n
In his book, Pudjangga, Kwa wrote that Tan Khoen Swie's
\ncompany had played a key role in the preservation of Javanese
\nliterature.<\/p>\n
Around 200 books were published by Tan Khoen Swie.<\/p>\n
Besides being published in Central Javanese, books were also
\npublished in Bahasa Melayu, among them; People's Entertainment,
\nIrian and the Freedom Struggle Round Table Conference, Ladder of
\nSpiritualism, Prophet Khong Tjoe's Biography and Agricultural
\nProblems.<\/p>\n
Sutjahjo said the provincial administration had not shown much
\ninterest in the books' preservation.<\/p>\n
\"They said no one would be interested in a Javanese literature
\nlibrary. So they dropped the plan,\" said Sutjahjo.<\/p>\n
Literary and cultural figures to have visited Sutjahjo's
\nlibrary include writers Mira Sidharta and Claudine Salmone from
\nFrance, cultural observer Arswendo Atmowiloto and researcher from
\nthe Jakarta Arts Institute Sardono W. Kusuma.<\/p>\n
Sutjahjo said that to preserve Javanese literature,
\nbusinesspeople, artists and professionals had come together for a
\nforum called Pamikad, Sekar Rinonce and the Macapat group
\n(Javanese poetry recital and singing group accompanied by gamelan
\nmusic), spearheaded by Rinto Harno from the Kediri-based giant
\nclove cigarette manufacturer, Gudang Garam.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dentist-preserves-javanese-scripts-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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