SDGs 4: Quality Education
On Friday, February 23, 2024, the Department of Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, specifically within the doctoral program in Anthropology, held an open seminar on the results of a PhD dissertation research in Anthropology. This seminar served as the final presentation before presenting the full results of the dissertation. The event took place at Soegondo Building, 7th floor, at 13:00 WIB and was attended by Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A. as the supervising professor, Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., Dr. Elan Lazuardi, S.Ant, M.A., and the students. The dissertation seminar was reviewed by Dr. Pande Made Kutanegara, M.Si., Dr. Mohamad Yusuf, M.A., Dr. Sita Hidayah, S.Ant, M.A. The dissertation research conducted by Prima Dona Hapsari was carried out in Dukuh Penaban, Karangasem, Bali. The focus of this dissertation was to examine Balinese lontar manuscripts from an anthropological perspective. The research aimed to explore the emergence, development, factors, and actors influencing the existence of Balinese lontar manuscripts.
According to Prima Dona Hapsari’s presentation, reading lontar manuscripts has been a tradition in Bali’s customary villages. However, nowadays, some people are beginning to abandon this practice due to certain lontar manuscripts being prohibited from being read by the general public. Despite this, lontar manuscripts are still recited during Ngaben ceremonies to ensure that everyone can hear the ritual even if not everyone understands it, as these texts are considered ritual experiences rather than memorization material. However, there is now a movement to reread Balinese lontar manuscripts emerging from both the Triwangsa (Brahmana, Kesatria, Waisya) and Jaba (intellectual group outside the caste system in Bali) groups.
Chronologically, in 2013, the emergence of the Bali Language Care Activists forced the inclusion of Balinese language into the 2013 curriculum. This step was taken to ensure that students could at least be introduced to lontar manuscripts. It is also stated that important actors influencing the existence of Balinese lontar manuscripts include the Bendesa of Dukuh Penaban and Penedun customary villages, as well as the readers of Balinese lontar manuscripts.
After the presentation, there were several responses from discussants and supervising professors. One of them was from Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A., who focused on the content of the dissertation. He stated that the dissertation is an excellent example for future anthropology studies. “This writing actually aligns with the questions in the last presidential debate about culture, that the condition of community destruction due to village tourism,” he continued. In that debate, the question was raised about what policy would be taken to make the community responsive. According to Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A., the answer to this question can be found in this dissertation. He emphasized that this situation represents a cultural murder. “For example, in the Ngaben ceremony, which should be described in more detail. Because within it, there is an anti-structure where the presence of lontar, which I feel is specifically placed in Ngaben, gives rise to a responsive community,” Prof. Dr. Paschalis Maria Laksono, M.A. concluded.
Author: Bonifacius Edo Wisnu Waskita
