The Fate of Balinese Intellectuality

Published 5 months ago in People & Community by Kunta Yuni | 265 Views

I had a nice talk with Gutomo Priyatmono, the headmaster of Ideology Critique in Philosophy Faculty, Gajah Mada University, Yogyakarta, about Bali nowadays while having tea in Kuta. Well, actually it was not really nice things to hear, quite bitter but I think it was a constructive critique for Bali. He was complaining about Bali’s (the people) attitude that always become an event organizer for events (he stated it as a “worker”) to prepare hotels, transportation and etc. for the United Nation Climate Change Conference (UNCCC). Well, no professors from Universities, no figures from the government who are really have any fine ideas and solutions to solve the climate change problem. Even most hotels and restaurants belong to non Balinese and sorry to say that lots of Balinese only become waiters, waitress, spa’s workers, and so on.

Garuda Wisnu Kencana

As a Balinese I can’t ignore the fact but I keep saying ‘most of’ but ‘not all’. He said over that in fact the Balinese has intellectual aspect inside them, none other than Balinese art. When someone wants to create an art he/she must have sense. The sense arises from a willingness to generate something and the willingness comes from the intellectual characteristic of the Balinese. As the result, a lot of beautiful dances are created; Legong, Tenun which shows the weaving activity,and etc., lots of unique statues; one of them is Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) by Nyoman Nuarta, a lot of artistic paintings, even the inventor of the flyover structure – ‘Sosrobahu’ in order to simplify the construction is a Balinese, he is Tjok Raka Sukawati.

Unfortunately most of the Balinese do not realize their intellectual capacity. They tend to be the object that is observed by the other and they forget to be the subject who do such great things, they prefer to be the ‘worker’ than to be the ‘innovator’. For example the dancer, most of them are noticed as something to entertain not as someone who has talent to do such beautiful movement. It seems no reward for their art and it looks as if there is no appreciation for the art. It just an entertainment, that’s all.

And for the most I feel sorry for the Balinese who has realized their intellectual aspect but choose to leave Bali. I don’t know the reason, whether it is because of lack of attention from the Bali’s government or lack of acceptance from the Bali’s society itself or maybe there is another reason for that. Last but not least the Balinese have to be a boss even in a small community than to be a worker in a big company. Yes, it must be true one day.

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