RI awards medal to Geertz

JAKARTA: Anthropologist Clifford Geertz from Princeton University was awarded with an honorary medal from the Indonesian government for the research he has done in Indonesia since 1952.

The medal was presented by Indonesian Ambassador to the United Nations Makmur Widodo at Princeton's Institute of Advanced Studies in New Jersey on Tuesday.

Geertz, who is fluent in Indonesian as well as Javanese, published The Religion of Java (1960), Old Society and New State (1963), Kinship of Bali (1975), Negara: The Theater State in Nineteen Century (1980), and Available Light: Anthropology of Reflection on Philosophical Topic (2000).

At the ceremony, Geertz expressed his gratitude for having his work acknowledged by the Indonesian government, Antara reported.

"However, I'm also sad as my work is almost done," said Geertz, who has been monitoring the developments in Indonesia from when it gained independence until now. -- Antara