Servants proud of their principles<\/p>\n
By Ida Indawati Khouw<\/p>\n
CIREBON, West Java (JP): His name is simply Saryan. No middle
\nname, no family name. His name reflects the simplicity of his
\npurpose in life: to dedicate himself to his work as a palace
\nservant.<\/p>\n
Saryan is a unique man of principle, who has dedicated his
\nlife to the Kasepuhan palace -- just like his 42 other fellow
\nservants. He is proud of being a palace servant with a monthly
\nwage of Rp 30,000 plus three cans of rice per week.<\/p>\n
\"I simply fast when I am broke. There is nothing unusual about
\nit,\" said the 73-year-old man. \"I just drink kopi tubruk (non-
\nfiltered Indonesian-style coffee) in the morning. It's enough to
\nhelp me go without lunch,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His boss is Sultan Sepuh XIII PRA Maulana Pakuningrat, who
\npossesses full authority to determine his wage.<\/p>\n
\"I will always accept my pay wholeheartedly, no matter how
\nmuch,\" said Saryan.<\/p>\n
Saryan has his own reasons for his near absolute loyalty to
\nthe palace. Like the other servants, he considers himself a
\nservant of Sunan Gunung Jati, one of the nine saints who
\npropagated Islam in Java and who originally lived in the palace.<\/p>\n
\"It keeps me close to the saint. And by serving the palace we
\nare always blessed. Thus my needs will always be fulfilled even
\nthough my income is not enough to make ends meet. I am happy with
\nmy job,\" said the skinny Saryan who has 16 grandchildren and two
\ngreat grandchildren.<\/p>\n
Of course not all of the abdi dalem share his principles.<\/p>\n
\"Some have become palace servants because they cannot find
\nother jobs. These abdi dalem are usually lazy,\" said Ida
\nDjayakelana, a relative of the sultan and coordinator of the
\npalace servants.<\/p>\n
Kasepuhan palace now has 43 servants, most of them elderly.<\/p>\n
So if you happen to visit the palace, you will probably see
\nsome very old and fragile-looking men working there.
\nDespite their age they remain fit, as seen when accompanying
\nvisitors around the palace. They walk so fast and so far leaving
\nmany of their guests trailing far behind.<\/p>\n
They consider anything they receive from the palace a
\nblessing.<\/p>\n
\"The saint knows what we need in life. So we believe that we
\nwill never run short of anything as long as we are close to Him,\"
\nthe toothless Saryan said, laughing.<\/p>\n
Until 1988, the servants did not receive wages on a regular
\nbasis.<\/p>\n
\"There have always been ways for the servants to acquire
\nenough money to survive,\" said Djayakelana. Tips from visitors,
\nwhom they guide around the palace, help them a great deal.<\/p>\n
Although the policy to pay the servants on a monthly basis
\nbetween Rp 30,000 to Rp 50,000 has been welcomed, the money means
\nvery little because of the high inflation rate.<\/p>\n
\"Tips from visitors range between Rp 1,000 to Rp 10,000.
\nSometimes I can earn Rp 20,000 in a day and I am grateful for
\nthat,\" Saryan said.<\/p>\n
The palace is well visited by people from all walks of life:
\ntourists, students conducting research, people wanting to meet
\nthe royal family.<\/p>\n
The abdi dalem and their families live in magetsari
\nproperty, on land provided by the palace free of charge, for
\nroyal relatives and employees located close to the palace. They
\ndo not even have to pay the water bill as groundwater is readily
\navailable. They are just required to renew their property license
\non an annual basis.<\/p>\n
\"The palace provides only the land. The employees are then
\nexpected to build their own houses and pay their own electricity
\nbill,\" said Djayakelana.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, magetsari covered the entire Cirebon area
\nbecause all the land belonged to the palace,\" said Djayakelana,
\nwho also lives in the magetsari.<\/p>\n
In the past, farmers living on the palace's property were
\nrequired to donate half of their harvest to the king. The money
\ngenerated from this tribute went to the palace budget.<\/p>\n
Presently, magetsari consist of plots of land encircling the
\npalace with large gates connecting the two areas.<\/p>\n
The magetsari houses are modest. In fact, they are so crowded
\nthat the area looks more like a slum.<\/p>\n
For the average person, living in magetsari is undoubtedly
\nconsidered prestigious, but relatives and friends are generally
\nreluctant to call by because they feel uncomfortable with the
\n\"royal environment\".<\/p>\n
\"The palace complex is seen as magical,\" said another servant
\nHafid Permadi.<\/p>\n
Hafid rented a house outside the palace complex because his
\nrelatives felt awkward. \"The palace does not object to what I
\nhave done. Living outside the palace allows me to seek additional
\nincome.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/servants-proud-of-their-principles-1447893297",
"image": ""
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