People hear their own voices at gatherings with Emha
By Sirikit Syah
JOMBANG, East Java (JP): From the main road of Jombang on to the small road leading to Menturo village in the Sumobuto district here, dozens of cars and motorcycles fight their way to the house of Islamic preacher and poet Emha Ainun Najib.
The dirt road was rocky and unlit. On both sides of the road were rickety houses with no electricity. All vehicles had to park about two kilometers before his house, forcing thousands of people to reach his residence on foot for the monthly Islamic teaching called pengajian padang bulan (full moon Islamic teaching).
The gathering, held by Emha and his family in his birthplace of Menturo, is an event where people meet and listen to their own voices.
Alfian Eko, from Lumajang, said: "I started attending this penagjian regularly two years ago, when there were only about seven people. I told a friend of mine from Lumajang about it and he came with me. In the following months, he came here with his friends in one car. Later on more came in two cars. I can't imagine how it will be in the next one or two years."
At the last pengajian on Feb. 22, nearly 15,000 people showed up to listen to Emha, commonly called Cak Nun. Without any publicity, the event was flooded by people from Surabaya, Malang, Lumajang, Jakarta and other parts of Java. But did they come to see dangdut singer Rhoma Irama, who was making a guest appearance?
"Certainly not. We came for Cak Nun. People always come, whether there is a guest speaker or not. Even the rain couldn't stop the people from coming to listen to Cak Nun," Bambang Sudjiono, from Surabaya, told The Jakarta Post.
It started two years ago as a small monthly gathering among family, relatives and neighbors every full moon. Word traveled and people from Jombang started coming; then people from Surabaya, from other cities in East Java, and then from outside East Java.
Cak Nun began to invite his friends to speak, including singers Neno Warisman, Novia Kolopaking, Trie Utami and Rhoma Irama. Those who attend the religious poetry readings, musical performances and other forms of entertainment are usually young people, civil servants, artists and journalists from small villages, but VIP guests such as East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman and Military Commander Imam Oetomo have been known to show up.
The event usually begins after the Isya prayer at about 7:30 p.m. Cak Nun's elder brother leads the participants in reading the Koran together. At about 8:30, Cak Nun appears and delivers a talk. Guest stars are introduced at the end, at which time they can give a speech, read the Koran or sing religious songs.
Guest star
In January, Cak Nun told his audience there would be a special guest star the following month.
"His name is Aburizal Bakrie. You know that name, don't you? Now, if you are interested, you can write a business proposal for him next month. He will help you."
Aburizal didn't show up but representatives from the Bakrie Group and the Medco Group did. This was all right with Cak Nun, who was able to discuss the business proposals and projects that needed financing with the representatives at the following meeting.
"This is only the beginning. This is my concept of partnership between small and larger businesses. We don't talk too much, we just do it. I have people who need capital and friends who have it. I have them meet at the pengajian, and the rest is up to them," said Cak Nun.
In fact, his mother runs a similar partnership with eight cooperatives in the village, based on jimpitan, a Javanese term which means to contribute handfuls of rice for certain projects.
"My target is to help people become economically independent and productive," said Cak Nun.
At the gatherings, Cak Nun doesn't only talk about Islamic teachings. He talks about the Indonesian economy and how it is dominated by business people of Chinese descent, about the general elections coming up in May and other political issues.
He said he understood how Rhoma Irama, who was present at the gathering, could leave the United Development Party (PPP) to join the ruling Gokar group.
"But Mas Rhoma must also understand why indigenous Indonesians rarely have a chance to win business deals and why Chinese businessmen can be close to regents," said Cak Nun to thunderous applause and cheering.
Rhoma Irama replied by saying that he lost his political motivation once it was declared that every party must adopt the state ideology, Pancasila, as its guiding principle.
Islam, he said, is no longer the main principle of the PPP.
Rhoma said he had not supported any political party since 1987, when he declined an offer to join Golkar. He finally decided to join in 1996.
"A party is like clothing or a tool. The most important thing is the mission. And our mission as Moslems is to choose Moslem leaders," Rhoma said to a cheering audience.
Communicator
Many of those attending the gatherings feel that Cak Nun is an ideal leader. They admire his honesty, his bravery and his behavior.
"Cak Nun is a very special man. And yet he is so humble. The first time I met him, he talked to me like I was one of his old friends. I can't forget that," said Alfian, who has a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) and orphanage in Jombang.
"I saw Cak Nun working with people to prepare this event. He lifted chairs and sound systems. He behaved as if he was just one of us and not the star that we look up to," added Alfian.
Many people enjoy listening to Cak Nun because they feel they are listening to their own voices. "He speaks what's on our minds. And we never ask him to do so. He feels what we feel. That's why he can give voice to what's inside us," said one attendant.
Cak Nun, who is the fourth of 13 children, gives meaning to his family and the people of Jombang, where he grew up. Neighbors also enjoy the pengajian, as they allow them to earn some extra income by selling food and beverages.
"An executive from Jakarta-based PT Pesona Kayangan has promised to build a 4.7-kilometer road from Jombang's main road to my house," Cak Nun said, adding that an asphalt road would help improve the economy of Menturo village.
When the last pengajian was over, many of the participants were reluctant to leave straight away. Guests from Jakarta left after midnight, while dozens of people went to meet Cak Nun for private consultations. They waited like patients in a doctor's room. Hare Rumemper, a close friend of Cak Nun, said jokingly: "This is the time for perdukunan (traditional medication)."
Meanwhile, singer and TV star Novia Kolopaking was waiting patiently in the back room of the house. She wanted to leave for Surabaya but felt she had to say goodbye to Cak Nun, with whom she is rumored to be involved with.
"How were you able to enter this place without being noticed?" the Post asked. She said she was used to coming and was familiar with the road. "And of course I covered my face with a veil," she said.
Cak Nun finally met his mother, relatives, close friends and Novia in the back room. Novia had about five minutes with him before she left for Surabaya, where she was scheduled to sing the following morning.