Native Betawi unconcerned about influx of new-comers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The indigenous people of Jakarta, or orang
\nBetawi as they are known, remain resolute in their traditional
\nways without begrudging the sweeping changes in the city.<\/p>\n
With the 467th anniversary of the capital on the threshold, a
\nnumber of Betawi people interviewed by The Jakarta Post were
\nunconcerned about the influx of new-comers stripping the face of
\nthe city of its traditional veneer.<\/p>\n
\"This is the capital city...we're not particularly disturbed
\nby it. That's the way it goes,\" said H. Ali Sa'atih, a resident
\nof Pondok Betung, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The 64-year old Ali, or Pak Haji as everyone calls him,
\nbelieves that there is nothing really to lament about the plight
\nof the Betawi people.<\/p>\n
Naisa Dablang, an 89-year old resident of Rempoa, South
\nJakarta, echoed the same sentiment when he said that he did not
\nfeel insecure and was resigned to fate.<\/p>\n
The culture of the indigenous people of Jakarta has become
\nincreasingly diluted as the city evolves into a concrete jungle
\nand melting-pot of various ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
Despite being bombarded by a multitude of cultures and foreign
\ninfluences, the Betawi people are resilient in their way of life.<\/p>\n
Traditional characteristics are still dominant in their homes
\nfounded on a strong foundation of religious faith.<\/p>\n
\"I have married off all my children in the old way and I have
\ntaught them to cherish their past,\" Pak Haji said.<\/p>\n
However he acknowledged that day by day things are changing
\nand it cannot be stopped. \"The main thing is we keep our faith in
\nGod and live by his ways.\"<\/p>\n
The name Betawi dates back to 1619 when Dutch governor Jan
\nPieterzoon Coen burned the city of Jayakarta and established
\nBatavia, which evolved into the metropolis of Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The indigenous locals then took up the name and identified
\nthemselves as orang Betawi.<\/p>\n
Minority<\/p>\n
The orang Betawi though are now in minority, making up only
\nabout one-fourth of the city's total population.<\/p>\n
Many Betawi people who once inhabited central parts of the
\ncity have been forced out to the suburbs where they eke out a
\nmiserable existence.<\/p>\n
Once rich land-owning Betawi are now confined to small blocs
\nof land in remote parts of the city.<\/p>\n
Naisa described how his parents once owned 10 hectares in the
\nRempoa area, but bit by bit the land was sold and incredibly now
\nonly 170 square meters is left.<\/p>\n
A history of land selling seems to be a dominant theme among
\nthe Betawi people. It is common practice for them to sell land in
\na consumptive way without realizing that it as renewable asset.<\/p>\n
Pak Haji said that he has done it several times such as when
\nhe held a wedding party for one of his eight children or to
\nfinance his holy pilgrimage to Mecca.<\/p>\n
\"If I need the money for important purposes I will sell some
\nof my land, fortunately I still have a few hectares left,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Pak Haji, who sells fruit and vegetables, said he has also put
\naside some of the land for his children and has built each of his
\nsons a house.<\/p>\n
The fact that the Betawi tend to sell their land has been
\nreproached by many of the younger generation.<\/p>\n
Nana Rain who lives in Rawa, asserted that the main reason for
\nthis is a lack of education.<\/p>\n
\"I'm an orang Betawi but I'm modern and feel that education is
\nimportant...you can lose land but you can't lose education,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nana, the eighth child of 14, says her family used to own
\nabout 10 hectares of land but now has just 600 square meters.<\/p>\n
She went on to reflect that her parents are very firm in
\nupholding Betawi customs, but even they have realized that
\neducation is important and that selling their land should no
\nlonger be habitual.<\/p>\n
\"My brothers and sisters are all educated,\" boasted Nana who
\nis currently a second-year student at a secretarial academy.<\/p>\n
Naisa's grand daughter, Nahuya Saenan, said her family lost
\nmost of their land because of ignorance.<\/p>\n
\"In the old days they weren't educated so they didn't
\nunderstand...they used to lead a lavish life eventually forcing
\nthem to sell their land,\" she said.<\/p>\n
When asked if they felt threatened by the progress in the
\ncity, both Nana and Nahuya said that at times they were a bit
\nconcerned about the survival of the Betawi people but overall it
\nis acceptable.<\/p>\n
It's all the same, it doesn't really matter where you come
\nfrom, Nana said.<\/p>\n
With this in mind they still cling onto several traditions
\nwhich have been ingrained in their children.<\/p>\n
In many parts of the city the Betawi people live together in a
\nparticular area establishing a strong communal bond.<\/p>\n
More importantly the essence of Islam can not be denied from
\ntheir way of life. As Nana explained, her parents, despite their
\nfirm grip, consent to marriages with other ethnic groups but not
\nto those of other faiths.<\/p>\n
Accordingly many others feel this way thus proving that
\nreligion remains the corner stone of the survival of Betawi
\nculture.(03\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/native-betawi-unconcerned-about-influx-of-new-comers-1447893297",
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