Batik : Pride comes first after Logic

On the devastating today due to Sumatra’s earth quake, Indonesians are poured down into euphoria celebrating the UNESCO’s officially-admitted Batik as an Indonesian Genuine Heritage. It seems like a national-batik celebration here where everyone supposed to wear their Batik attire. Facebook and Twitter were full of ‘Batik’ topics, newspapers, media and so forth also did the expose. I was even thinking whether we are celebrating some kind of victory against something in the matter of ‘claiming batik’ war. As far as my brain can remember, batik has been part of Indonesian ages ago. It is a you-can’t-go-wrong wear by ladies and gentlemen in both formal-informal occasions, as a family legacy, from a wedding couture to bath robe commonly seen in indigenous suburban-village area.

Just like any other individual in this earth, they need recognition. Indonesian wants international institution and the world to admit that Batik is Indonesian heritage. Period. And now Indonesian gain the UNESCO’s recognition (on what level I don’t know), and they celebrate it by making 2nd October as national Batik Day.

By general information I generate from Wikipedia, Batik is already exist in Egypt in 4th century BC, where it was used to wrap mummies; linen was soaked in wax, and scratched using a sharp tool. In Asia, the technique was practiced in China during the T’ang dynasty (618-907), and in India and Japan during the Nara period (645-794). In Africa it was originally practiced by the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria, Soninke and Wolof in Senegal.

While in Indonesia, it is believed to be part of the culture in 6th-7th century. Some expert said it was derived from India-Sri lanka and some were argued that it is originally a tradition native to regions such as Toraja, Flores, Halmahera, and Papua.

Knowing the background, history and essence of Batik, now we can see the reasons why some countries claimed that Batik is also their legacy. One thing we should put our logic on, It s not a mere selfish acclamation or just shallow claiming for the sake of tourism campaign or even some competition of my-heritage-is-richer-than-you-so-I’m-better-than-you in the over-hyped issued happening in recent time.

They have their own evidences and reasons for it.

We must gladly open our logical opinion up towards the fact that they do have their ‘Batik’ Heritage as well. Their grand mother of grand mother of grand grand father might also already practice and wear batik in their entire previous life.

Now ladies and gents, the one thing we should highlight is “What kind of Batik does our culture (Indonesia) have?” How our Batik distinguished compared with other countries..How the colors were came, what is the technique, what is the pattern and so on….we do know that Batik comes in millions of different patterns, hundreds of techniques and materials, which one does Indonesian own?

When it comes to Patent-things, I do believe that a slight difference could lead to different patent. If I change the McDonald’s ‘M’ symbol into another font type, than it will not become McDonalds symbol anymore. Egypt and the rest of African countries have their own patterns of big bright figures and so does Indian, Thailand and Chinese and even Malaysian. And maybe there’s other part of the world that use Donald duck face figure as their pattern….Only God knows.

The thing that I really appreciate is the works done by Indonesian government to convince UNESCO to officially release recognition towards Batik=Indonesia (Indonesian Batik, Batik as general or what level of batik?). I have no evidence but the reason behind UNESCO’s recognition might because Batik is more well-known, loved, established, practices, wear and cultivated in Indonesia compared with the rest of the world. Just like the case of Sipadan and Ligitan island ownership cases (which eventually admitted belongs to Malaysian). The judgment delivered because the island is more recognized and maintained by Malaysian. Trust me when I said that 90% of Indonesian don’t even know what or where Sipadan-Ligitan is before the cases arise….No, sorry, make it 95% of Indonesians.

So, learning the experience from the past, Indonesian should recognize, maintain and cultivate their culture self belonging first in order to winning the upcoming ‘claiming’ war.

Happy Batik Day!
AIP.

P.S Photo is taken randomly, please let me know if you wish the picture to be removed.