University of Udayana, a cultural conscience

University of Udayana, a cultural conscience

By Rita A.Widiadana

JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): The campus of the University of Udayana, the oldest university in Bali, receives hundreds of new students every year. The new faces also bring new to the province of Bali.

Located on the hot and barren Jimbaran Hill, some 20 kilometers south of Denpasar, the campus is home to thousands of students in Bali.

Originally established as the province's cultural think tank on Aug. 17, l962 , the university has become one of the foremost higher institutions in the country. It is also playing a crucial role in the development of Bali.

University's newly elected rector I Wayan Wita, a medical professor, shared his views and vision on education, and social and cultural issues facing the Balinese people today.

"Time has drastically changed, and so has our social, economic and cultural condition," said Wita last Friday after a series of meetings with provincial government officials.

There is a deep concern among academics in Bali over the drastic changes occurring in the Balinese community.

"We are now facing a huge cultural and social transformation, which the Balinese are hardly aware of or understand," the rector said.

Wita added that more people in Bali have become richer because of the province's economic progress. "Financially, they are becoming stronger, but their bonds to their culture and religion are weakening."

Over the last few years, Bali has only emphasized on physical development. "We have so many new buildings, wide roads and other beautiful structures, but our spiritual and cultural development have barely been touched," he said.

He admitted the Balinese loved the arts including dance, fine arts and other performing arts. Yet, their understanding of the philosophy behind these forms of art are limited.

This also happens in religion. The majority of the Balinese, in practicing their religion, stress on ceremonial activities. "Everyday they perform religious ceremonies, whether simple or elaborate, but if you ask them what the ceremony signifies, only a handful can give you the answer," he said.

Limited knowledge of their own culture and religion may lead to narrow-mindedness and a lack of tolerance, he said. "And this is very dangerous as it can create friction among the Balinese and with outsiders as well," Wita explained.

In such a situation, the local people are culturally and emotionally fragile, making them easy targets of outside influences. "We are now easily attracted to glamour, money, fame," he said.

The rector jokingly said, "The smile of the Balinese is the smile of the dollar," meaning their genuine hospitality has vanished and that they will only smile if it can bring money."

Wita, however, doesn't believe the West and capitalism have contributed to the change in the society. "It is us who is to blame," the rector added. "Nobody can prevent outside influences in this era of globalization."

"The more important question is are we equipped with the necessary weapons to stop negative influences from outside Bali? The most potent weapons for us are our religion and culture."

Wita said the University of Udayana had been working with the provincial and regional administrations, religious leaders, informal chiefs of the desa adat (traditional villages) and other scholars to correctly promote the Hindu religion and traditional customs to the younger generation.

The empowerment of informal and traditional institutions like banjar (community organizations), desa adat and religious leaders can significantly curb negative threats to Bali and its people.

"We are now involving members of banjar and desa adat to deal with drug and alcohol abuse, and also other community issues," he said.

Every banjar races to hold various youth programs to discourage youths from taking drugs. The programs include kekawin (reciting from holy books), performing Balinese dances and participating in a gamelan orchestra. The University of Udayana, in collaboration with other institutions, has held a series of seminars, discussions and talks on culture and religion to provide the locals knowledge on these matters.

"We hope to contribute to the physical and spiritual development of Bali," he said. The university also has a Cultural and Tourism Study center.

"Our programs emphasize on the Balinese culture," he said. In its medical school, for instance, there is a special course on traditional medicine. The university's architecture department offers a regional (Balinese) architecture course. The School of Agriculture has recently begun a course on agronomy and subak (Balinese traditional irrigation and rice growing system).

"We are ready to provide the province with high-quality graduates who have a strong knowledge in Balinese culture."