Long-term obsession guarding Bali
As far as we recognize about Ajeg Bali (keep Bali as original), the ripple of fellows to look after Bali keep getting stronger. And also Ajeg Bali itself means an effort to keep Bali save, literally. Strong perception of Ajeg Bali that control Bali people minds is taking care of the cultures, customs and its own religion, in these days. Well, in quantum leap era like these days, not mentioned about the western civilization that looks like become the second custom in Bali, the eastern adherent concern Balinese, that in the future, their children would lost the heritage of their ancestor cultures. We call it westernize syndrome in Bali.
Specially if people of this small island, was so welcome to the outside world at certain point. But they also realize that, they live from the western civilization itself. These are the symptoms of global Paradox that haunted the whole human races. In one side, emerge the pride to control the world, but in the other side, appear the dread of becoming extraneous, thus emerge the cognition of original culture.
The truth, the sense to look after Bali from unproductive western civilization had happened a century before. Even Dutch as conquer of Bali before, realize how important to keep the origin of Bali Culture intact, with its own unique and authentic civilization.
History of Bali shows that part of F.A.Liefrinck, the resident of Bali and Lombok in the beginning of 20th century, who assignment in Bali. This young scientist was so obsess about Bali, he wanted to keep Bali as its own ‘origin’ by ‘not touching it. Because this was in his mind, but not his adversary, Governor General Van Heutsz, who wanted to ‘sweep’ bali as soon as possible.
Besides Liefrinck, the colony’s officer V.E.Korn had the same ideas to keep Bali ‘origin’. But only Korn had little bit extremist ideas about it, and suggest Bali must be closed for outsider and its influences; Nationalisms, Moslems, Christians, etc. this Korn’s Vision was also backup by Dr.R.Goris, a linguist and counselor of Nederland in Bali. The reality, missionaries’ activity was stopped by The Hindia-Belanda (name of Indonesia before/V.O.C) Government.
Besides the colony officers, most of other Dutch have the same ideas to keep Bali origin because of their concern. Rudolf Bonet or Walter Spiece concern about the modern effect from western civilization that would change Bali’s tradition. Is Miss Manx or Ketut Tantri, a lady who have very interesting story in growth of Bali history. This American’s lady who was born in Scotland, have a deep feeling about Bali and its culture. Her felling at last influence to all her activities in Bali. All her story was honest and simple told in her book, Revolt in Paradise, which translated into 50 languages. In Bahasa Indonesia it was ‘Revolusi di Nusa damai’. Because of that, the feeling of Ajeg Bali possessed so many Balinese, and it is understandable. The only problem is the concept and the strategy of Ajeg Bali itself, it’s so fundamental and has to be prepared first. This is the first foundation of the first step for what we called Ajeg Bali is. If we go flashback on historical value, the effort of Ajeg Bali before, is about to keep Bali save against outsider attack. This kind of concept was trying to keep the outsider ‘out’. But now, it’s really hard to keep this kind of concept. It is impossible to closed Bali from Western civilization totally just like Korn’s ideas. Whereas, the depravity of community is not only from external sources but also from internal society itself. In fact, most of the time it is from internal sources, which make a depravity of community. In this context also, the effort to look after Bali, ought to put affirmation factor agenda as the important thing. From the Ancient Sastra (scroll) already remind us about it, ‘the biggest enemy is not from outside, but it is from inside.
