Supali Kasim, Living Dictionary of Dermayu
Supali Kasim, 54, is like a living dictionary that contains the history, culture and language of Indramayu. The former elementary school teacher was often visited by journalists, researchers and lecturers who were curious about the north coast area of West Java. It feels right when he says life is like a dictionary. It must be as ideal as possible, not just pragmatic.
Kamus Jawa Kawi dictionary by Dr. Maharsi and Kamus Indonesia Kuna dictionary P J Zoetmulder were on Supali’s desk at Paoman Asri housing complex, Indramayu, on Friday (14/6/2019). His fingers and mind are getting familiar with those literatures. That afternoon, he was working to complete a book on the Javanese language with Indramayu dialect. "It\'s 80 percent," said Supali, who was also writing Indramayu folklore book.
Once the book is published, it will add to the work of an illiterate mother’s son which have reached 40 books that tell about Indramayu and Cirebon, such as the Budaya Dermayu or Gandrung Kapilayu poetry collection in Indramayu language. Some are written by himself and some are written with his team.
Most of his books were written on a one-meter wooden table in the corner of his house, under the stairs. A number of paintings by Indramayu artists are also displayed on the wall. While various books are stored at his child\'s room as his shelve was no longer able to accommodate the books.
In recent days, he was busy writing a local-content textbook about Indramayu language. The work became a series of efforts to prevent the mother\'s language from becoming extinct at its own birthplace. Linguistically, furthermore, Indramayu people’s language is Javanese,
but with a distinctive local dialect. "In the city center of Indramayu, this language is being abandoned," he said.
Moreover, there is a feeling that the Indramayu language is a minority in West Java. Based on a bylaw No. 6/1996 concerning Language, Literature and Sundanese Scriptures, the language in West Java is Sundanese. Consequently, all schools in West Java must learn Sundanese.
Based on our assessment, the Cirebon language is not right. It should be Javanese language with Cirebon and Indramayu dialects
The bylaw was then revised with bylaw No 5/2003, which includes Sundanese, Malay, Betawi and Cirebon languages as West Java languages. "Based on our assessment, the Cirebon language is not right. It should be Javanese language with Cirebon and Indramayu dialects," said the man who obtains master degree in Indonesian Language and Literature from Gunung Jati University, Cirebon.
The bylaw was revised again. Supali who joined the revision team was seen cynically by others. "I am accused of being primordial. In fact, the language is a regional identity. We know who we are from language. Our history is written in regional languages. The word reang [I], for example, in Indramayu language is also the same as in Tengger, Semeru, East Java. That means Indramayu is also part of the ancient Javanese language," he explained.
The bylaw was successfully revised to become bylaw No 14/2014. The West Java language is no longer limited to Sundanese or Cirebon. Supali and other authors continue to produce local-content textbooks as teaching materials for elementary school and high school in Cirebon and Indramayu.
Long before that, the recipient of the 2018 Local Language Figure award from the Indonesian Journalists Association of Indramayu has preserved the local language. In 2005, Supali established the Lembaga Basa lan Sastra Dermayu institution. Its 25 members come from various professional backgrounds, such as teachers and artists to farmers.
The most important ones are traditional performing arts actors because they use local languages
In 2017, they held the Basa Dermayu Theater Festival which was attended by around 200 students from Indramayu. However, Supali was reluctant to claim to be the sole perpetrator of local language preservation. "The most important ones are traditional performing arts actors because they use local languages," said the first chairman of Indramayu Arts Council (2001-2004).
Village clerk
Supali does not only write about local languages. He also works on the history, art and culture of Java’s north coast area. Where his talent came from, he didn\'t know. However, his late father, Kasim, was a clerk in Juntinyuat village, Indramayu. The father did not have rice fields, but he diligently recorded the size of the village land and the number of local residents.
His penchant for writing might come from the father. So does his hobby of reading. In junior high school, Supali began buying Kompas daily once a week for Rp 125. He set aside his pocket money which in the 1970s amounted to Rp 25 per day. The other newspaper he was looking for was Sinar Harapan and Suara Merdeka. His passions are sports and arts and culture.
"For Indonesian language and Social Sciences subjects, my scores were 9. But, Mathematics and Physics were only 5," he said with laughter.
He realized it was impossible to master everything. Moreover, he had to spend his time to help his mother, Darem, producing rengginang cracker and shrimp paste. His curved thumb signifies his hardwork of printing hot dogs.
Nevertheless, the thumb also left a trace of his love for Indramayu. Between making rengginang, Supali listened to the stories from his illiterate mother. They were about traditional art to Juntinyuat weaving which is now almost extinct. His mother even became the main source when Supali wrote the book Dermayu Culture.
His interest in social issues drove him to study social science (IPS)
during high school. However, due to limited finance, the fourth child of six siblings was asked to enroll at teacher education school (SPG). His parents wanted, after completing education, he could immediately work, not taking college.
Two years after graduating the SPG, the 20-year-old Supali was promoted as an elementary teacher in Anjahan, bordering Subang, approximately 76 kilometers from his home. His career continued until he became the principal.
As an individual grew up on coastal area who reads the history and culture of Indramayu, Supali learns the value of honesty and openness. One of his inspirations was the Bratayudha puppet play which was often performed in various village events, such as Sedekah Bumi and Mapag Sri in his village.
Yudhistira had arched his heart. The eldest son of Pandu has an honest character in words and deeds and is good to anyone. Once, through his writings in the media in 2010, Supali suggested the regent candidate in Indramayu to follow Yudhistira who refused the gift from God if it were not also for his people. According to Supali, the prospective leader must not prioritize his personal interests.
Now, Supali works as an elementary school supervisor with the Indramayu Education Office and continues to write. The vast knowledge of the father of three children made scholars come to him and ask him about Batik Paoman, the art of tarling (guitar-flute) and to the history of Indramayu. With pleasure, he welcomes anyone who wants to know about his area. Supali also continues to encourage all parties to write. For him, writing is an attempt to connect history and knowledge.
"Our scholars must produce books, whatever the theme. Don\'t be like a banana tree. After fruiting, it\'s finished," he said.
Supali Kasim
Born: Indramayu, 15 June 1965
Wife: Titin Nurhaeni (48)
Education:
- SPG PGRI Indramayu 1983 (Now SMA PGRI 2 Sindang)
- S-1 Indonesian Language and Literature at FKIP Wiralodra University, Indramayu (1999)
- S-2 Indonesian Language and Literature, Swadaya University of Gunung Jati, Cirebon (2012)
Award:
- 2018 Local Language Figure Award from Indonesian Journalists Association of Indramayu
- 2013 Arts Award (History Figure) from Indramayu Art Council
- Elementary School Principal Achiever in Indramayu (2008)