'Dalang' enjoy freedom after Soeharto's fall

By Haryoso

SEMARANG (JP): President Soeharto's big fall in May has left Javanese shadow puppet masters, dalang, wondering if there is anything they can do to restore their image as moral gurus.

The country's new political climate gave dalang the courage to speak their minds during their July 7 through July 9 congress in Central Java's ancient city of Surakarta.

About 150 puppet masters from Central and East Java attended the congress, in which they disclosed they had been used as a tool of Soeharto's political propaganda machine during the 32 years of the New Order regime.

They said they were forced to convey government messages in their shows. The last instance in which this happened occurred when Indonesia was beginning to feel the pinch from the economic crisis and was being stricken by various disasters. The Soeharto government sponsored wayang kulit (shadow puppet) shows throughout the country, all presenting the story Romo Tambak. According to Javanese mystical belief, the story has the redeeming power to purify individuals, families or even a country from all wrongdoing.

The state's intervention in cultural affairs has seriously impaired the freedom of dalang to maintain their role as moral gurus. For Javanese, wayang stories are packed with moral wisdom from which a good dalang conveys moral values to the audience in a plain and entertaining way.

Soeharto himself was often referred to by his political foes as a dalang in the political arena since he so completely controlled society. Real dalang say they have become stigmatized since they were a "megaphone" of the New Order regime.

Cultural observer Emha Ainun Nadjib, when addressing the congress, said that many dalang had become very wealthy under the Soeharto administration and that they had neglected their moral duties.

A dalang who puts financial fortunes above ideals and moral duties has succumbed to political pressure and relies on cheap and dirty jokes, he said.

"A dalang in this category only thinks of money and other material wealth," he said.

Famous dalang, such as Ki Djoko Hadiwijoyo, Ki Entus Soesmono, Ki Suboro and Ki Panut Darmoko, expressed pessimism that puppet masters could become Begawan, or moral gurus, in the post- Soeharto era.

Their reason is that, like any other artist, dalang have two options in life: ideals or material wealth.

"Ideally, a dalang can take the middle way," Hadiwijoyo said.

Many participants in the congress complained that dalang were forced to promote Golkar, the political organization that Soeharto used as his political vehicle to stay in power.

In Central Java, dalang have been grouped in an association of dalang and Javanese singers pesinden called or Ganasidi, a move they see as the government's effort to control artists.

Ki Panut Darmoko from Nganjuk, East Java, said the dawning "reform era" put dalang in an awkward position because of their past association with Golkar.

"Golkar is fast losing its glow following Soeharto's fall. It has been blamed for the economic, political and moral crisis," he said.

"It's true that nowadays dalang stress the entertainment aspects of the show too much and somewhat neglect the moral aspects. Maybe it's because the country is full of clowns and dalang love clowning around."

Cultural observer Won Poernomo said he did not see any dalang qualified enough to be called moral gurus who are truly committed to the promotion of Javanese culture.

Their cultural commitment is so loose, he said, that what concerned them most was how to amuse the audience with off-color jokes or how to please the host with a lively show.

Dalang often act like public relations officers for certain government leaders, he added.

"Some dalang have gone as far as discrediting fellow dalang who support Golkar's rivals, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and United Development Party (PPP)."

Ki Sayoko, a dalang from Klaten, Central Java, has, for example, been scorned by many peers simply because he openly sympathized with Megawati Soekarnoputri, a PDI leader and one of Soeharto's political enemies.

In fact, independent cultural observers have long warned dalang against being co-opted by political groups, including the government, but the advice has often fallen on deaf ears.

Poernomo said dalang should show a "reform spirit" in themselves and forget the kudos they received from the Soeharto administration.

"The public is critical of dalang who fail to innovate. They will be left behind by wayang lovers."

A similar view was aired by wayang columnist Murtijono, who chairs the Surakarta Cultural Center.

In his opinion, dalang -- because of their strategic role in the community -- had been co-opted by the state since Indonesia proclaimed its independence in 1945.

"It's possible that proreform leaders will now persuade them to convey their political messages as well," he said.

The three-day congress offered dalang something to ponder: whether to be independent from outside interests or not.