Habirandha Pedhalangan School

Rating :

1.7 ( 3 Voter(s) )

A. Overview

A strain of Javanese song (gendhing) was heard faintly accompanying a Yogyakarta-style of singing which was yet to reach perfection. There was a pupil playing a leather puppet in clumsy-looking manners. Next to him, a teacher (pamong) gave the boy some direction (warah) once in a while to develop the talent. This is a slight picture of the learning process in Habirandha, a school of pedhalangan (the art of puppetry) that is situated inside the Yogyakarta Royal Palace complex.

The old school was established in 1925 upon the initiative of Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung (KRT) Djajadipura with full supports of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono VIII, the King of Yogyakarta Sultanate. In the meeting on Wage Monday, July 26^th 1925 or Muharram 5^th Be year 1856 according to Sultan Agungan Javanese calendar, KRT Djajadipura and Bendoro Pangeran (BPH) Suryaningrat sat together to discuss about the idea of setting up a center for pedhalangan teaching.

The meeting of the two noblemen from Yogyakarta Sultanate resulted in an agreement to build a pedhalangan school with the name Habirandha. Beside settling the name, the meeting also determined the school board, which includes RM Rija Gandaatmaja (headmaster), KRT Djajadipura (secretary), R. Rudjita (treasurer), and GPH Tejakusuma and BPH Suryaningrat (general board members).

Habirandha is a contraction of Hamurwani Biwara Rancangan Dhalang or “The First Door to develop/shape/learn to become a dhalang (puppeteer)”. In the beginning, Habirandha was open special for dalangs’ children. But over the time, the school opened itself for public to accommodate their need and to preserve Javanese puppetry.

The first class was held on July 27^th 1925 or Monday, Muharram 6^th Be year 1856. In this first class, KRT Djajadipura was appointed director and teacher for general pedhalangan class. History of pedhalangan, sulukan (singing), and pakeliran (set decoration) classes were handled by RW Prawirodipuro, RT Madubranta, and RB Cermawicara respectively.

Habirandha used to be called Pawiyatan Pedhalangan Karaton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat Habirandha. The training center basically aimed at keeping puppetry away from extinction, an objective which the institution has been consistently trying to achieve until today. Later on, it was changed into Habirandha Pedhalangan School or more shortly, Habirandha School.

At its early period, Habirandha only held classes for a first-level pedhalangan lesson, i.e. mayang or puppet playing. However, later on the classes for other basic lessons were opened. The basic lessons were cepengan (method of holding a puppet), sabetan (manipulation technique usually applied during a war scene), janturan, kandha carita (narration recited along with gamelan playing), pocapan (dialog), suluk sekar (singing), dhodogan, keprakan, gendhing (gamelan melody), and pakeliran (set decoration).

Everyday, the school starts at dusk, around 18.00 up to 22.00 West Indonesian Standard Time (WIST). After class, pupils would usually have a discussion with their teachers until late. They generally need 3 years to master the basic technique of pedhalangan. In accordance with the words of KRT Cermo Widyokusumo, current headmaster of Habirandha School, “It takes three years of learning to become proficient in basic performing skills.”

Having been operating since 1925, Habirandha has undergone many obstacles. The teachers are often not around to deliver the class while the teacher regeneration system turns out not to work well. As some teachers passed away, the school once had to stop its class.

Aside from the lack of teachers, Habirandha also has another classic problem, funding. For the most part, it is because the non formal school is not registered as a government funded institution. As a result, it can only count on the fund from the Royal Family and the school fare which is Rp 20.000,00 per month for each pupil.

Eventually the minimum fund available adds up to the equipments. Thus it is the pupils that have to bring the trunk of a banana tree (gedebog) and to fix a broken puppet. Everyone in the school does not have any other choices but accepting the situation as cannot afford a stage, gamelan instruments, and the gamelan players as well as the singers (sinden).

Meanwhile, the monthly school fare does not suffice the costs of equipment procurement, maintenance, and reparation. As for the teachers, they receive different amount of payment from Rp 12.000,00 to Rp 15.000,00 for each as a form of appreciation from the Royal Family. What is incredible is the fact that the teachers, who are also the royal servants, are still willing to do their job as well as they can. Some say they do it sincerely for their culture preservation, not for money.

In spite of the obstacles, the school in fact has produced some graduates who, either as a dalang, scholar, practitioner, have made their names in cultural field. Among them are Ki Timbul Hadiprayitno and Ki Anom Suroto; Prof. Roger Long, cultural researcher from the University of Hawaii, US; Prof. Soeripto, an oncologist from Gadjah Mada University (GMU); and Suyono, a lecturer in GMU.

B. Features

Habirandha Pedhalangan School is open for everyone who wants to learn about Javanese puppetry. The pupils of the school come from various professions, such as pedicab rider, laborer, civil servant, lecturer, doctor, professor, and foreign tourists. There is no restriction of age, education, and social status. As far as the person is not mentally or physically challenged, s/he can go to the class. It is quite interesting to see that pupils from various professions gather in the class, especially given that puppetry has been more and more unpopular in the battle with modernity.

Although puppetry is no longer favored today, the pupils are still burdened with the cost during their time in the school. They will obviously not do this if they do not have the sincere intention and interest to learn and preserve puppetry.

Habirandha applies very low fare to its pupils. However, with minimum facility, it certainly deserves appreciation for its determination and firmness in the efforts of preserving traditional culture or in this case, the art of puppetry.

C. Location

Habirandha Pedhalangan School is situated at Rotowijayan Street No. 1, Yogyakarta.

D. Access

You can reach Habirandha Pedhalangan School easily by motorcycle or car. By public transports, you can take a route 5 city bus and get off at Rotowijayan Street (before the ex-Ngasem Market).

E. Ticket

Visiting Habirandha Pedhalangan School is free of charge.

F. Accommodations and Other Facilities

Apart from their main duty to teach puppetry in class, the teachers in Habirandha are willing to have a discussion on puppetry outside class. Such discussion usually takes place at night, starting from 22.00 WIST until late.

Text: Tunggul Tauladan
Photo(s): Collection of Jogjatrip.com
Translation: Reza Daffi
(Primary data and various sources)

Read : 3017 time(s).

If you are from outside Yogyakarta and want to visit this place by travel agency services,
please contact:

Maharatu Tour and Travel

Jl. Sisingamangaraja No. 27 Yogyakarta.
Telp. +62 274 8373005. Fax. +62 274 379250
Email : maharatu@maharatu.com -maharatu257@yahoo.com
Website : www.maharatu.com

If you had visited this location, rate and leave a commentary to be noticed by its management and surrounding governmental tourism board.

Share