Surakarta's old museum seeks a fresh look<\/p>\n
Bambang M, Contributor, Surakarta, Central Java<\/p>\n
On a dull morning, with little else to do in Surakarta, a family
\nexplored the colonial-style Museum Radya Pustaka on Jl. Slamet
\nRiyadi. There was no guide available to assist them, nor were the
\nexhibits, such as an organ, ceramic pieces, stone statues, a
\ngamelan and weaponry, adequately lit.<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes of traipsing around the 533-square museum was
\nenough for the family from Jakarta, who had, after all,\"just
\ndropped by after attending a wedding reception.\" They took some
\nphotographs of the artifacts, mostly from the ancient Surakarta
\npalace, and left.<\/p>\n
In fact the historical significance of the museum, which was
\nbuilt in the 1800s, seems to have been ignored. No wonder, there
\nis no electric lighting and the atmosphere is one of creeping
\nsilence. Hardly, elements that would encourage children to visit.<\/p>\n
One room, where a figurehead or canthik called Kiai Rojomolo
\nis displayed is almost entirely dark.<\/p>\n
Everything is shabby, the collection of leather puppets in
\nthe front room is in disorder, the pages of thousands of old
\nmanuscripts of prominent Javanese scholars, like Ronggowarsito
\nand Yosodipuro, are yellowing. In fact these manuscripts, along
\nwith the other exhibits, are important keys in understanding the
\nmysteries of Javanese culture.<\/p>\n
But no additional information on the exhibits is provided.
\nWhile it is true that a picture speaks a thousand words, museum
\nhead KRH Darmodipuro's explanation that, \"We thought they (the
\nexhibits) were enough,\" falls short of impressive.<\/p>\n
In 1990, the building was renovated at a cost of Rp 50 million
\n(US$5,900). The museum is not owned by the government, but by a
\nfoundation called Paheman Radya Pustaka. Surakarta's Agency of
\nTourism, Arts and Culture of Surakarta donated Rp 100 million to
\nthe museum in 2002. But in 2003, they donated only Rp 40 million.<\/p>\n
Several institutions like Museum Ronggowarsito in Semarang,
\nThe Archeology Agency of Central Java, and the Agency of Tourism,
\nArts and Culture of Surakarta, have also helped by paying the
\nsalaries of some employees of the museum.<\/p>\n
Museum guide, Ambar, said that certain significant pieces in
\nthe museum, such as bronze statues, were kept under lock-and-key.<\/p>\n
\"This is one of the complaints of visitors, especially
\nforeigners,\" she said. The relung rambut Buddha (large bronze
\nhead of Buddha literally called amid the hair of Buddha) and
\nAvalokitesvara statue are among those pieces rarely on public
\ndisplay.<\/p>\n
Experts believe that the Relung rambut Buddha, which was found
\nin Gantiwarno, Klaten, Central Java, was the head of a four-meter
\ntall statue of a seated Buddha, originally from the Sewu Temple
\nin Prambanan.<\/p>\n
The Avalokitesvara statue, according to Padmopuspita J. in the
\nbook Nawa Windu -- which was published to observe the 72nd
\nanniversary of Museum Radya Pustaka -- was the visualization of
\nthe magic light of Dhyani Budha Amitabha. Standing at around 32
\ncentimeters, the statue is of a man in a seated position, with
\nthree sets of arms. Parts of the statue are silver or gold
\nplated.<\/p>\n
But despite the obvious worth of the exhibits, Darmodipuro
\nsaid that, \"We don't have any special employee to watch the
\nroom.\"<\/p>\n
The museum also houses microfilm of thousands of ancient
\nJavanese manuscripts, the documentation of Nancy Florida, an
\nAmerican citizen who steeped herself in ancient Javanese
\nliterature in the 1980s.
\n The microfilm and the projector are kept in a cupboard in
\nDarmodipuro's office. The microfilm has been badly damaged as the
\nroom is damp and not air conditioned.<\/p>\n
\"What can we do? We don't have enough money to equip our rooms
\nwith air conditioners,\" Darmodipuro said.<\/p>\n
Due to poor security, thieves have broken into the museum on
\nmore than one occasion. A statue called Argastya and several
\nancient manuscripts were stolen in 2000.<\/p>\n
According to museum employee Sri Rahayu, a book, believed to
\nbe the oldest one in the country, was also stolen from the
\nmuseum. It is titled Kakawin Bharatayudha and was written by Empu
\nSedah in Javanese in 1157.<\/p>\n
The oft-cited excuse for the museum's appalling state is lack
\nof money. Despite donations, the museum is running at a loss. The
\nmonthly income from the entrance fee, which is Rp 1,000 per
\nperson, is only Rp 500,000. Darmodipuro said he had asked wealthy
\npeople in Surakarta to help out, but to no avail.<\/p>\n
Even the Surakarta administration seems to be half-hearted in
\nits efforts to save the musuem.<\/p>\n
\"We have our own interest in maintaining this cultural asset,
\nso we help with operational costs,\" said Ibnu Haryadi, head of
\nthe Supervision and Development of Art and Cultural Assets
\nsub-agency under the Agency of Tourism, Arts and Culture of
\nSurakarta.<\/p>\n
\"To manage a museum professionally, the ownership must be
\nclear,\" Ibnu added, suggesting that the government would manage
\nthe museum better.<\/p>\n
Darmodipuro agreed but lamented that then-minister of
\neducation and culture, Fuad Hassan, had rejected the idea.<\/p>\n
\"Would it be any better if the museum was managed by the
\ngovernment?\" he quoted the then-minister as saying.<\/p>\n
The history of the museum began with the establishment of an
\ninstitute, called Paheman Radya Pustaka on Oct. 28, 1890, by KRA
\nSosrodingrat IV, a patih (minister) of Kasunanan Surakarta Palace
\nduring the administration of Paku Buwono IX.<\/p>\n
The institute was set up to develop Javanese culture through
\nthe preservation of manuscripts and various other historical
\nitems. Paheman Radya Pustaka literally means a collection of
\nbooks of the palace. The institute also published Javanese
\nmagazines called Sasadara and Tjandrakanta.<\/p>\n
As time went by, the museum boasted more and more exhibits.
\nMost of them were from the palace and KRA Sosrodingrat IV or were
\ndonated by other people. Paheman Radya Pustaka is believed to be
\nthe oldest institute of science established by Indonesians. One
\nof its contributions was to regulate the written Javanese
\nlanguage in a publication called Sri Wedari (to spelling) in
\n1922.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 1, 1913, Paheman Radya Pustaka moved from Ndalem
\nKepatihan to Lodji Kadipolo (the current location of the museum).
\nLodji Kadipolo formerly belonged to a Dutch man, Johannes
\nBusselaar. Sunan Pakubuwono X purchased the land for 65,000
\nNetherlands guilder and gave it to Paheman Radya Pustaka. In
\n1953, the institute became the foundation that manages the museum
\nat present.<\/p>\n
With such a history, the museum should be managed
\nprofessionally regardless of its ownership. Concrete action to
\npreserve the musuem and the country's cultural heritage for the
\nnext generation not be delayed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/surakartas-old-museum-seeks-a-fresh-look-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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