Forum: Batik, a symbol of Javanese domination?

Thu, 11/27/2008 10:56 AM | Reader's Forum

As an American, I can't enter this debate about "Javanese domination", but even I feel comfortable wearing batik in Indonesia and elsewhere. It's beautiful for sure, enough styles to fit anyone's preference, but more importantly practical and comfortable.

I'd love to have the option to wear batik over a hot stuffy suit and tie on the way to the office.

Would the author think Papau is better represented when government wears three-piece suits? Seems odd to make a political case out of a personal preference for a style of dress.
CLYDE
Washington

When I worked in Jakarta, we had casual day on Friday and I always wore batik shirts and now I have a collection of about 10.

What could be more comfortable to wear in the tropics? What could be more exciting to see than office workers wearing shirt and tie and/or suit which dates back to the 18th Century Englishman.

Why can't the world adopt the comfortable Javanese batik and this would be really terrific for the Indonesian economy? Why doesn't your president wear it more often?
T. COTTON
Pattaya, Thailand

Yes, Javanese hegemony is a reality in Indonesia and only someone with guts can say that. The batik case is a harmful one, compared to national power sharing and allocation of capital or resources.

Just consider the top ranks of government and army then you can see who is in charge in Indonesia! And what about the position of the darker people in the east part of the country? Do they feel culturally represented in batik? The answer is: No!
ATING
Jakarta

I agree that if Batik is not our national clothes. In fact, we are from different ethnics and cultures. All parts of Indonesia have their unique batik such as Batik Banjar (sasirangan), Batik Kutai and many others, but we tend to narrow it down to the batik that comes from Java.

We don't have to hate the Javanese or certain people which promote Batik as our national clothes. If we don't like that icon, just leave it and wear our favorite cloths from the region you come from.

If someone asks you, why don't you wear batik? You can answer, "Indonesia has different cultures." By wearing our own traditional clothes, people can see how rich in culture we are. Thank God.
AGUSTIN
Jakarta

Lalika. It is what my parents called me, when I was "a good boy". Dad was Hungarian, Mum was from Nganjuk. I was born in Medan and, therefore, I wear the kain tenun emas and baju terhias and the peci bludru when I feel I have to represent my "Indonesian" ancestry.

And funny, I am so very happy to feel the swish of the kain against my legs. And batik? I love it too. And I wear the batik shirt when it is very hot here in Summer.

Of course, I am proud of my ancestors, be they Leluhur Jawa or magyar *llampolg*rs*gos osek. That is fiction. What would Java do without Sumatra or even Banda Islands? Just read the device on the Garuda, there is your answer.
PRANAPUTRA
Wellington

Alhamdulillah, finally someone speaks the truth! Thank you for being so brave and being so out spoken. I couldn't have said it better myself.

Enough is enough! Stop any kind of ignorance and discrimination toward any other cultures, because it's not doing any good for anyone.

Let's start fresh and embrace all cultures with open minds and warm hearts, and then we might actually discover peace, freedom and beauty in diversity.
AGUSTINA LUBIS
Jakarta