Saving the Balinese ancient art of 'lontar'

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Buleleng, Bali

A great many of Indonesia's indigenous arts have disappeared because the younger generation lives in the pop culture, and considers anything indigenous as "out of fashion".

This situation has added credence to the conviction that you should expose your children at the earliest age possible to the culture that you want and expect them to grow up loving and nurturing.

I Gusti Bagus Sudiasta is one person who has proven the truth behind this belief.

Brought up in a family that had a great appreciation of the arts, he has dedicated most of his life to preserving lontar documents, or manuscripts written on palm leaves, a profession that most people would frown upon because it is both lonely and financially unrewarding.

Sudiasta, a native of the northern Balinese regency of Buleleng, is proud to have inherited his ancestors' skill at lontar reading and inscription, and to be able to share this expertise with younger Balinese.

Born on Sept. 13, 1952, Sudiasta is the son of I Gusti Ngurah Suarna, a dedicated activist of traditional arts and literature.

"I inherited my talent and skill mostly from my grandfather, I Gusti Bagus Sukriwa, a well-known Balinese (Hindu) priest as well as expert in literature and culture.

"It was my grandfather who gave me the inspiration and guidance in pursuing my lontar-inscribing skills," he says.

Sudiasta began his artistic pursuits by sketching Balinese wayang (puppet) characters when he was in elementary school.

He continued to develop his skills while he was in junior high school and high school. Still, he credits much of his mastery to his art-loving family and environs.

"My grandfather was a Balinese dalang (puppet master) and I also learned the art (of puppetry) from him," he says.

Sudiasta's lontar-inscription prowess led him to a position some 25 years ago at Gedong Kirtya, a museum in Buleleng that specializes not only in collecting and preserving old lontar scrolls, but also copying, transcribing and transliterate the contents.

"I got the job simply because I could read and, most importantly, inscribe lontar," he recalls. "Mine is a rare skill and they hired me on the spot."

This proficiency has allowed Sudiasta to earn additional income from selling lontar scrolls, mainly to foreigners who appreciate the value of the hand-written arts.

"Scrolling on lontar requires great patience because you cannot make a mistake when scratching the pengutik or pengerupak (inscribing tools) on the dried leaves.

"Each scratch must have a purpose and meaning. We cannot afford to erase any scratched lines, so it takes a lot of concentration when making lontar," he said.

No preparatory rituals are required when working on lontar scrolls, and Sudiasta says he just follows his mood. It begins with him reading the storyline to be inscribed on the lontar.

"Then the drawings and writings just flow. Sometimes I have to refuse (a job) if I think the story is not right or appropriate. Sometimes, I am just not in the mood," said Sudiasta.

Now the curator of Gedong Kirtya, Sudiasta is doing everything he can to reintroduce lontar and traditional Balinese literature to the Balinese public, especially the young.

His first goal is to spread the knowledge of the ancient lontar among students.

"Basically, most Balinese students can read the Balinese alphabet, as it is taught as a compulsory subject. But when it comes to reading lontar, most students feel afraid and reluctant because the lontar is considered sacred.

"If we can't get students interested in reading lontar, how can we expect them to make one?" he asked.

Traditionally, Balinese Hindus regard lontar as holy items that are usually placed in temples, where only the pedanda (priest) can read them during religious ceremonies. This perception has discouraged laymen from studying lontar.

Gedong Kirtya organizes an annual festival called Nyastra Bali, in which students read lontar-based Balinese literary pieces as well as compose their own.

"Once they are familiar with lontar reading, they will better appreciate the art. Only then can we hope that some of the students will be interested in learning how to inscribe lontar," Sudiasta said.

Several high schools in Karangasem and Buleleng have begun to introduce the art of lontar inscription to their students.

Sudiasta also wants to see lontar become a field of study at art institutes.

He is proud that all three of his sons from his marriage with Sang Ni Made Rasmawati, a traditional Balinese dancer, can inscribe lontar.

His oldest son, I Gusti Bagus Kusuma Mahendra, 25, is an architect who graduated from Denpasar's Udayana University, and is well-versed in traditional Balinese dances.

His second son, I Gusti Ngurah Paramarta Giri, 23, a graduate of Bali Polytechnic, also has a great interest in traditional dances.

"My youngest son is the best lontar writer of all. He finished in third place at a recent lontar inscription competition," Sudiasta says about I Gusti Bagus Nyoman Purwa Japa, 16, a high school student.

"My sons' achievements ease my worry about the future of lontar. They are well aware about preserving their cultural heritage," he said.

Sudiasta is a perfect model for the adage that cultural awareness is best implanted in children as early as possible.