Gedong Kirtya preserves tradition in computer age

By Nyoman Suwela

DENPASAR (JP): In the current era of advanced electronic technology, with computers replacing typewriters and disks have replacing paper, the Gedong Kirtya library continues its careful preservation of palm leaf manuscripts.

This unique library in Singaraja, the capital of Buleleng regency, collects, copies and stores thousands of lontar (palm leaf) manuscripts. Books in Balinese, Indonesian, Dutch and German dealing with Balinese culture are also available at Gedong Kirtya.

The only library of its kind in the world, Gedong Kirtya is located at Jalan Veteran No. 20, Singaraja, next to the Sasana Budaya Cultural Center (formerly the Buleleng Palace). It is frequently visited by tourists and local residents interested in learning about Balinese culture.

The library was established on June 2, 1928, by L.J.J. Caron, who was then the "resident" (a Dutch colonial government official) of Bali and Lombok. Gedong Kirtya was officially opened to the public on Sept.14, 1928, by A.C.D.de Graff, then the Governor of the East Indies.

Gedong Kirtya commemorates the work and dedication of two Dutch scholars, F.A. Liefrienk and Dr.N.Van der Tuuk. These men extensively researched the Balinese language, customs and culture.

The place was originally called after its foundation, Stichting van der Tuuk. Its name was later changed to Gedong Kirtya under the advice of I Gusti Putu Djelantik, then the King of Buleleng. Kirtya is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "to do" or "to endeavor" and gedong means building.

The foundation was avidly supported by many scholars interested in learning more about Hindu-based culture in Indonesia. Among them were Dr. R.Ng.Pubacaraka, Dr. W.F. Stuterheim, Dr. R.Goris, Dr. Th. Pigeand and Dr. C.Hooykaas.

The many manuscripts stored so carefully in this library are made of the leaves of the lontar palm tree, which is called the "fan tree" because of the shape of its leaves. These leaves are widely used in Bali for mat plaiting, palm sugar wrappers, water scoops, ornaments and ritual items.

Lontar books were made from specially selected leaves with tips of about 2.5 centimeters wide. After a leaf was dried for one day, it center spine was removed and the unusable parts discarded.

The leaf was then soaked in water for three days to remove the chlorophyll, which made it green. A coconut fiber brush was used to clean off any insect eggs and dirt. It was later dried again for another day.

The next process was the steaming of the leaf until it became yellowish red in color. The water used for steaming had to contain a dye made from liligundi (vitex trifolia) leaves and a certain amount of gambir (uncaria). Too much gambir would make the red too dominant.

The leaf was later dried slowly in a damp place to prevent it from becoming wrinkled.

The processed leaves were then piled up and pressed. Holes were made in each leaf for the binding. But this was not the end of the process.

Each lontar leaf needed to be pressed again, trimmed and colored with kincu (a sort of lipstick). The leaves were then stored for about six months before anything could be inscribed upon them. The longer a leaf was stored, the straighter and tighter it would be and therefore easier to write on.

A special tool called pengutik or pengerupak was used for writing on the lontar leaves. The tool was made of iron with the tip sharpened into a triangular shape so that the scratch could be made either thick or thin. There were different pengerupak for writing, drawing and cutting.

The library also has a collection of prasi. Prasi is lontar with pictures depicting shadow puppet (wayang) play characters.

A great deal of perseverance and patience was required to draw a prasi. Each scratch and line had to be engraved carefully. No scratch was meaningless. When transcribing a wayang character, no details could be left out. Talent and patience was a must in the creation of a beautiful and harmonious drawing. Most of the drawings came with texts, including poems.

Because the lontar manuscripts tell not only the history of Bali, but also of the arts and the culture of its people, the lontar collection at the Gedong Kirtya library is obviously a very important part of this nation's heritage.