Native Betawi unconcerned about influx of new-comers

Native Betawi unconcerned about influx of new-comers

JAKARTA (JP): The indigenous people of Jakarta, or orang
Betawi as they are known, remain resolute in their traditional
ways without begrudging the sweeping changes in the city.

With the 467th anniversary of the capital on the threshold, a
number of Betawi people interviewed by The Jakarta Post were
unconcerned about the influx of new-comers stripping the face of
the city of its traditional veneer.

"This is the capital city...we're not particularly disturbed
by it. That's the way it goes," said H. Ali Sa'atih, a resident
of Pondok Betung, South Jakarta.

The 64-year old Ali, or Pak Haji as everyone calls him,
believes that there is nothing really to lament about the plight
of the Betawi people.

Naisa Dablang, an 89-year old resident of Rempoa, South
Jakarta, echoed the same sentiment when he said that he did not
feel insecure and was resigned to fate.

The culture of the indigenous people of Jakarta has become
increasingly diluted as the city evolves into a concrete jungle
and melting-pot of various ethnic groups.

Despite being bombarded by a multitude of cultures and foreign
influences, the Betawi people are resilient in their way of life.

Traditional characteristics are still dominant in their homes
founded on a strong foundation of religious faith.

"I have married off all my children in the old way and I have
taught them to cherish their past," Pak Haji said.

However he acknowledged that day by day things are changing
and it cannot be stopped. "The main thing is we keep our faith in
God and live by his ways."

The name Betawi dates back to 1619 when Dutch governor Jan
Pieterzoon Coen burned the city of Jayakarta and established
Batavia, which evolved into the metropolis of Jakarta.

The indigenous locals then took up the name and identified
themselves as orang Betawi.

Minority

The orang Betawi though are now in minority, making up only
about one-fourth of the city's total population.

Many Betawi people who once inhabited central parts of the
city have been forced out to the suburbs where they eke out a
miserable existence.

Once rich land-owning Betawi are now confined to small blocs
of land in remote parts of the city.

Naisa described how his parents once owned 10 hectares in the
Rempoa area, but bit by bit the land was sold and incredibly now
only 170 square meters is left.

A history of land selling seems to be a dominant theme among
the Betawi people. It is common practice for them to sell land in
a consumptive way without realizing that it as renewable asset.

Pak Haji said that he has done it several times such as when
he held a wedding party for one of his eight children or to
finance his holy pilgrimage to Mecca.

"If I need the money for important purposes I will sell some
of my land, fortunately I still have a few hectares left," he
said.

Pak Haji, who sells fruit and vegetables, said he has also put
aside some of the land for his children and has built each of his
sons a house.

The fact that the Betawi tend to sell their land has been
reproached by many of the younger generation.

Nana Rain who lives in Rawa, asserted that the main reason for
this is a lack of education.

"I'm an orang Betawi but I'm modern and feel that education is
important...you can lose land but you can't lose education," she
said.

Nana, the eighth child of 14, says her family used to own
about 10 hectares of land but now has just 600 square meters.

She went on to reflect that her parents are very firm in
upholding Betawi customs, but even they have realized that
education is important and that selling their land should no
longer be habitual.

"My brothers and sisters are all educated," boasted Nana who
is currently a second-year student at a secretarial academy.

Naisa's grand daughter, Nahuya Saenan, said her family lost
most of their land because of ignorance.

"In the old days they weren't educated so they didn't
understand...they used to lead a lavish life eventually forcing
them to sell their land," she said.

When asked if they felt threatened by the progress in the
city, both Nana and Nahuya said that at times they were a bit
concerned about the survival of the Betawi people but overall it
is acceptable.

It's all the same, it doesn't really matter where you come
from, Nana said.

With this in mind they still cling onto several traditions
which have been ingrained in their children.

In many parts of the city the Betawi people live together in a
particular area establishing a strong communal bond.

More importantly the essence of Islam can not be denied from
their way of life. As Nana explained, her parents, despite their
firm grip, consent to marriages with other ethnic groups but not
to those of other faiths.

Accordingly many others feel this way thus proving that
religion remains the corner stone of the survival of Betawi
culture.(03/mds)