Ida Bagus Made Mantra
On the 9th of July, Balinese will participate in the public election, for electing the next governor. And Balinese hope the next governor will be as successful as Ida Bagus Made Mantra, the 1978- 1988 Balinese governor. Balinese love him much.
Born on May 8th 1928, Mantra grew to become a man who with great artistic talent. He was a good student in his school, very active in artistic activities and well known as Kebyar Duduk dancer. He inherited this artistic talent from his father whom also taught him how to dance.
Mantra then taught Cultural History of India in Indonesia University after he graduated from Santiniketan University, India. He was also one of pioneers who pioneered the establishment of Udayana University.
This second son of Ida Bagus Rai had brilliant ideas to keep Balinese culture alive such as founding some institutions such as STSI and IHD (Institusi Hindu Dharma); He gave chance to many people learning everything related to the Balinese culture and art in these schools. STSI (now ISI-Indonesian Art Institution) opens chance for everybody to learn megambel (playing Balinese instrument), dancing, photography, etc while IHD is more put more emphasis on studying Hindu.
He did not stop on them. Mantra had an idea to build a place, centre for Balinese culture. Then, that idea finally had been materialized when Taman Werdi Budaya “Art Centre” was built. Besides as a centre place for art he also proposed his idea to give “Art Centre” another function. He proposed that it is a must to hold a festival which shows Balinese culture and art named PKB (Pesta Kesenian Bali). In this festival all kind of Balinese art are showed. Range from painting to Balinese drama performance, from sculpture to Balinese dance performance are served at there.
His purposes in creating PKB are not only to increase the number of tourist arrival in Bali but there are other important things. This annual celebration gives chances for all Balinese community to get benefit from tourism directly. This benefit means that their art works are appreciated by selling them and Balinese art and culture never be timeworn though modern technology becomes more and more.
This festival invited all of Balinese to enjoy it. It is hoped that Balinese enjoy it and more concern about their art. In order to maximize these functions Balinese government choose the long holiday season, July-August for holding the festival.
And Indonesian government thinks that PKB is successful program with has so many functions that President and Balinese governor never be absent on its opening.
His ideas led him to be Balinese governor in 1978. When he was a governor he was kept his idealism that culture is an important part of life and he also used cultural approach to settle the problem. And he is still loved by Balinese for his prevention of Balinese art and culture.
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April 13th, 2008 23:09
Prof Mantra is a truly Balinese leader who understands and implements proper Balinese culture. He is the one who deserves to be called “Budayawan”.
We hope that the next Governor of Bali is as charimastic as him.