Rajapatni.com: Surabaya (3/6/24) – THIRTEEN of sixteen students and one supervisor from Staffordshire University, UK, studied cultural diversity in Surabaya. Apart from learning music and ecoprint, they also learn to write Javanese script. They write their names in Javanese script. Javanese script writing training is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday (3-4/24).
The first class was held in the Khairil Anwar Room, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Unair on Monday morning (3/6/24). The teachers are the Puri Aksara Rajapatni cultural community team, represented on the first day by Ita Surojoyo (Founder) and Nanang Purwono (Chairman).
Starting the class, Nanang gave a general overview of the history of Javanese script, especially in Surabaya. That the Javanese script was a script that was commonly used in the 18th – early 20th centuries. Gradually, as time went, its existence was gradually replaced by the Latin script. Finally, the Javanese script was eliminated.
However, since September 2023, Javanese script beban to be introduced again, which is formally stated in the Circular Letter (SE) of the Regional Secretary of the City of Surabaya. Since then, Javanese script has been written everywhere in the Surabaya City government offices, starting from 145 sub-district offices, 31 district offices, OPD offices to the City Hall and Surabaya City Council DPRD.
“It’s still top down. Because of that, the Puri Aksara Rajapatni cultural community took the initiative to independently teach Javanese script to the public for free,” explained Nanang.
Meanwhile, further technically, Ita Surojoyo explained Puri Aksara Rajapatni’s activities in terms of teaching Javanese script. According to her, the Sinau Aksara Javanese activity is always attended by foreign citizens.
This class, which takes place five times per package, was attended by Japanese families in the First Class. The second class was attended by expatriates from America and specifically and exclusively there is one class for students from the UK.
“This is a special class for students from the UK,” said Ita to the students.
They are students at Staffordshire University, who were selected to take part in a cultural program to Indonesia. According to the supervisor, Dr. Marc Estibeiro, Associate Professor of Music, that his university sends students to various countries.
“There was also a group of students who are sent to Vietnam and this group has the opportunity to visit Indonesia. This cultural visit is to provide and increase their awareness of cultural differences,” explained Marc.
In this first Javanese script lesson, they are invited to get to know Javanese script and write their names using Javanese script. Previously, Ita Surojoyo explained that writing Javanese script is voice based, that is, based on sound. So the sound that is heard is what is written.
So, before each student’s name is written in Javanese script, their names are asked to be pronounced carefully and while listening together with the friend next to them. After saying it and hearing the sound, Ita then invited each student to recognize the sound and match it with the characters. Then write the name in Javanese alphabet.
The students were so happy to find that their names could be written in characters they were new to. One of them is Danny, a name that is actually not very strange to Indonesians. However, for Danny, having his name written in Javanese script was a pride. Moreover, he wrote the script himself after receiving instructions from Ita Surojoyo.
Similar experiences were also experienced by other students. In the process, they actively ask questions to cross-check whether the writing is correct or not. On average, it was correct, only a few small writing arrangements, which Ita later confirmed. After they practiced writing their names, they wrote each name on a piece of HVS paper for a group photo. Apart from that, they also write attendance list using Javanese script.
At the end of class, they took a photo together while holding a piece of paper with their names written on it. Based on the ability to write names on a piece of paper, in the advanced class on the second meeting, they will write them on a key chain. This second class will take place at the Surabaya Education Museum.
“Tomorrow, at the Education Museum, you will prove that Javanese script is written in manuscripts that are hundreds of years old,” concluded Nanang while closing the Javanese Script class. (nng PAR)