Japanese 'Karawitan' wizard rich but unhappy

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.