JP\/15\/SRIMBEN<\/p>\n
Srimben, a Balinese woman who \"produced \" two RI presidents<\/p>\n
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\nAlit Kertaraharja
\nContributor
\nSingaraja
\n-------------------<\/p>\n
As every Indonesian knows, Soekarno was the first president
\nand his daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri, is now the fifth
\npresident, the first such succession in the nation's post-
\nindependence history. Few, however, know about the woman behind
\nthese two-generation successes.<\/p>\n
Her name was Ida Ayu Nyoman Rai Srimben.<\/p>\n
In the early l900s, Srimben was born as a daughter in the
\nBrahmana high priest family in Buleleng, North Bali.<\/p>\n
She lived her life as a member of the Banjar Bale Agung clan
\nby conducting prime duties in the family and her community. Her
\nduties included praying, weaving, making traditional textiles,
\ndancing, mekidung (singing Balinese verses) and ngayah (serving
\nin the community).<\/p>\n
Her fate changed dramatically when she met a handsome school
\nteacher, Raden Mas Soekemi Sosrodihardjoe, at tweede klasse
\nscholen (elementary school during Dutch colonialism), which is
\nnow the SDN 1 Singaraja public elementary school.<\/p>\n
Her family never expected Srimben to marry a Javanese man. In
\nthe early 20th century, an interfaith, inter-ethnic marriage was
\ntaboo in Bali.<\/p>\n
Luh Ayu, 85, and Nyoman Gel Gel, 70, Srimben's living
\nrelatives recalled their memories.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, kin marriage was common among Balinese people,
\nespecially among the high-caste, which wanted to maintain its
\npure blood,\" they said.<\/p>\n
The Banjar Bale Agung clan held a very strict rule and
\ntradition concerning marriages of its members. \"Women in our
\nfamily were prohibited from marrying males in lower castes,\" Luh
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
But the beautiful, soft-voiced Srimben made her toughest
\ndecision in her life by eloping with Soekemi and, in doing so,
\nleaving her beloved family and traditions behind.<\/p>\n
\"At that time, her action was considered very risky by
\nBalinese women, but Srimben was so courageous to elope with
\nSoekemi,\" she said, adding that her move reflected both
\npersistence and rebellion against a rigid tradition.<\/p>\n
Balinese tradition dictates that marriage to an outsider from
\na different ethnic and religious group warrants \"family and
\ncommunal\" banishment.<\/p>\n
By marrying Soekemi, Srimben was banned for life from entering
\nthe family house, praying at pura (temple) and was excluded from
\nany traditional and religious ceremonies.<\/p>\n
Luh said that, although the young couple only lived 100 meters
\naway from the whole clan, Srimben was never seen entering the
\ngate of her family home.<\/p>\n
\"The big family and Srimben actually had owed one important
\nceremony called mepamit,\" said Made Arsana, a priest at Dadia
\nPasek Bale Agung.<\/p>\n
When a Balinese girl married to a man outside her family, she
\nmust carry out mepamit, a ceremony to bid farewell to her
\nancestral home and temple. After the marriage, a woman would
\nbelong to her husband's puruse (big clan).<\/p>\n
\"But when Srimben got married to Soekemi, the Banjar Bale
\nAgung clan had never conducted mepamit ritual to spiritually and
\nmorally release their daughter Srimben from any family's rights
\nand obligations,\" said Arsana.<\/p>\n
The ritual is very urgent to cut off the spiritual ties
\nbetween Srimben and her ancestors of the clan. Balinese people
\nstrongly believe in the Niskala (spiritual realm).<\/p>\n
\"We are expecting Megawati, as her direct descendant, to
\nrepresent Srimben to perform the mepamit ritual. So far, there
\nhas been no green light from her,\" said Arsana.<\/p>\n
While visiting the elderly Srimben in her home in Blitar, East
\nJava, years ago, another Srimben's cousin, Putu Ayu, claimed she
\nheard the old woman still mekidung.<\/p>\n
\"She still had vividly remembered her family members in Banjar
\nBale Agung and kept asking me whether the girls mastered dancing
\nand mekidung,\" recalled Putu.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp15srimben-1447899208",
"image": ""
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