JP/5/REPORT1

One view of the history of 'pesantren'

The term pesantren comes from the word santri (Islamic boarding school student) and when affixed with pe- and -an forms the meaning in the Indonesian/Malay languages -- of an Islamic boarding school.

The word santri, according to linguists, originated from the Tamil (ethnic group/state of southern India) word meaning a recital teacher. In his book Zamakhsari, published in 1983, CC Berg explained that santri came from the word shastri, which in Hindi language means the one who knows, or a guru of the Hindu holy book. Shastri alone comes from shastra which means holy books, religious books or knowledge.

Pesantren, usually mentioned with the word pondok (dormitory) pesantren on Java island, basically means a traditional Islamic boarding school.

All students live there full-time and courses are devoted to the study of Islam under the guidance of a teacher, better known as a kyai.

The students' dormitory is located inside the pesantren complex where the kyai lives, in addition to a mosque.

The complex is usually surrounded by walls to inhibit the entry and exit of the students. From the aspects of leadership, the kyai reigns supreme with absolute control over the pesantren.

Besides the study of Islamic teachings, many santri also practice the Islamic way of life as described in the Koran (Muslim holy book). Female santri dress according to the Koranic dress code and wear the head covering (jilbab), while male santri wear traditional clothing, usually sarongs or long pants.

In general, there are two types of pesantren, the salafiah (traditional) and khalafiah (modern), based on their respective teaching methods and curricula.

A salafiah teaches religious knowledge including the study of the "yellow" books on traditional Islamic law and Arabic lessons. The santri are trained to live independently such as doing their own laundry. Some of the pesantren even require students to cook their own meals.

A khalafiah blends its teachings between religious studies and modern thoughts. Besides Arabic, students might be introduced to English or the Internet to expand their knowledge of the world.

Irrespective of the debate on the use of the term pesantren, these learning institutions have existed since 1852. The Langitan pesantren, in Tuban, East Java, is said to be the oldest of its kind in Indonesia. It was under the auspices of Nahdlatul Ulama (the largest Muslim organization in Indonesia), and was founded in 1852 in Mandungan village in what is now East Java province. It now accommodates more than 5,500 santri.

Since 1966, the government has categorized pesantren on the list of organizations, which must receive guidance from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.