Culture and Modernization

A visit to Gusdurian community

On Tuesday, October 31, 2017, with a theme of discussion ‘Culture and Modernization’, Jay Akhmad, the lighters of ‘Ngaji Gus Dur #8 this afternoon’ at Griya Gusdurian Jogja, presented Gus Dur's articles written in 80-90s about ‘the position of our cultural system (Indonesia) and the influence of modernization’

According to Gus Dur and based on LIPI studies, there are fourteen regional cultural systems from Aceh to East Nusa Tenggara. These cultural systems are still used in the presence of unpredictable modernity. One example, Ngada culture of Manggarai could substitute the function of legal modern court before its existence in modern era. In the context of islamic boarding school, Kyai took part as a filter of all information input and culture rush before he disseminated to public to protect them from negative impacts. Considering people’s various reactions in facing modernity, especially in Indonesia with various cultural background and society life, filtering and protection is important.

Modernity is very close to technology and information, and one of the products of modernity is education curriculum. Formerly, Pondok Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) had no curriculum as there was only ‘pengajian’ (reading Quran) and the santris learned something from Kyai, even their graduation depended on him. Some of them were graduated quickly, some others had to stay longer. As time goes by, there are still Islamic boarding schools that still hold old model with no curriculum and only reading Quran. One of them is Salafiyyah. There are also semi-modern ones that combine recitation and curriculum but some others are with modern curriculum as formal schools.

Now, the graduated students from Islamic boarding school are free to continue their education to higher level, even Gus Dur, the fourth president of Indonesia was graduated from Islamic boarding school. University that accommodate students from Islamic boarding school without formal school certificate is State Islamic University (UIN) of Sunan Kalijaga.

Next, the participants of discussion were asked to share the influence of modernity to their local cultures. Elis, one participant from Sumba shared the marriage process in Sumba with number of horses as dowry, "In Sumba, we have to bring number of horses as belis (dowry) if we want to marry someone. The number is varied. To marry a royal lady, a man should prepare horses reaching to 100 horses, however if the woman is from middle class, he needs 50 horses and for the lower one can be negotiated from 10-15 horses."

Indah, from Medan shared Sinamot tradition in Batak marriage cultures. Sinamot is also dowry prepared by the groom to bride. Formerly the form of Sinamot is livestock dan farm products, but now, Sinamot is given in amounts of money. One participant from Java did not miss the discussion by giving information about marriage system in Java which still consider the date of birth, called ‘weton’. It is believed if ‘weton’ of the couple is not appropriate, the couple can not get married. But now, most people tend to be practical and no longer to involve the calculation of ‘weton’ in marriage.

The current manifestation of culture is the legacy of a past generation. Further, it is still possible that there is conflict between modernity and local culture. We should look back that cultural manifestation exists because of the prevailing cultural system in the local community, while the cultural system prevailing in the community came from the ideas of the people in the previous generation in order to organize life of the community. So, it is not easy for us now to trace down the background of a culture. One approach may be used is when culture appreciates human existence, it must be maintained, but if the existence of the culture does not value human existence (dehumanization), then it needs to be re-examined.

From the afternoon discussion, one thing that need to be underlined is culture and modernity should make human being more being human and not to shackle and dehumanize. (ML)