Japanese 'Karawitan' wizard rich but unhappy

By Sri Wahyuni

YOGYAKARTA (JP): One of the handful of lucky people benefiting from the current monetary crisis, which hit the country 10 months ago, is KRT Wasitodiningrat, a Javanese karawitan maestro.

Wasitodiningrat, 89, also an advisor to KGPAA Sri Paku Alam VIII of Yogyakarta's Puro Pakualaman Palace, makes Rp 24 million (US$3,000) a month.

As a retired karawitan (singing accompanied by gamelan) teacher from the California Institute of Art, the U.S., he receives a $1,500 monthly pension. With the current exchange rate of about Rp 8,000 per dollar, this equals about Rp 12,000,000. Then there is the $1,500 social security allowance he receives every month from the U.S. government.

"The rupiah's sharp decline against the dollar does make my earnings much bigger in rupiah than ever before," Wasitodiningrat said. "But I'm not happy with that," he added sorrowfully.

Wasitodiningrat said he was more concerned with the current situation rather than just calculating how much he earned, and hoped that things would soon be back to normal.

"I do hope the government will be able to restore the economic condition soon, so that people will no longer suffer from the crisis," he said.

Wasitodiningrat also said that he didn't worry much about where his money went, or who got the shares. "I have someone (a family member) to take care of that and distribute it to the family members in need," said the father of five daughters and four sons and who has 20 grandchildren and 26 great- grandchildren.

"I myself receive my share in rupiah and it's not much," he added, saying that he didn't need much money for his expenses.

For breakfast, Wasito needs only three pieces of Marie biscuits and a glass of water. He doesn't eat fish or meat, just chicken. He drink neither alcohol nor coffee, and he doesn't smoke.

"This is the way I maintain my fitness," the healthy-looking great-grandfather said in his low and heavy voice.

He was born on March 17, 1909, and named Tjokrowasito. He began learning to play Javanese gamelan when he was five years old. His father, R.W. Padmowinangun, was the leader of the Pakualaman Palace's karawitan music group in the time of Sri Paku Alam VII.

Just like his father, Wasito dedicated almost all of his life to the palace as an abdi dalem (palace employee). It was because of his position as an abdi dalem, and as an advisor to Paku Alam VIII, that Wasito had the chance to travel around the world since 1953. He was given the task to teach karawitan in the countries and cities he visited, including those of the U.S., Europe, Africa and Latin America.

Included in the countries he visited from 1953 to 1970 are France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portuguese, Chile, Russia, Egypt, Ethiopia and Lebanon.

In 1970, Wasito decided to live in the U.S. and become a karawitan teacher at the California Institute of Art. He also went on to teach karawitan at San Diego State University and Berkeley State University.

During this period, he was awarded the honorable title of Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung (KRT), a title that is usually given to the head of a regency or municipality, and was named KRT Wasitodiningrat, which means the advisor of a small world. Previously, he had been named Wasitodipuro, which means advisor to Puro Pakualaman.

Wasito retired from the California Institute of Art in 1992 but continued teaching karawitan for individuals or groups there until May last year, when he decided to come home.

"I'm completely retired now," he said, adding that an American assistant -- once his pupil -- was now taking over his duty as a karawitan teacher for foreigners.