I have been
thinking about the process of realizing the Pulang Kampung project. This project is not just about executing a
plan.
The first
Pulang Kampung journey had a singular goal: to say thank you to the
people, particularly weavers, who had helped me gather the data for my book, Legacy in cloth. Pulang Kampung III is
different. Since the appearance of my book, many people have looked to me for
leadership in the huge question of how to ensure the survival of the Batak
textile tradition. The goals of Pulang Kampung III are complex and compound. Ensuring
the survival of a textile tradition is a momentous challenge, much bigger than
it may seem. In the long run, it is about ensuring the survival of a cultural tradition.
The PKIII project design is a translation of the signals that I pick up from my Batak friends, in
combination with my knowledge of Batak culture and history. I notice how moving
it is for many Batak people when a Westerner devotes energy to promoting their
culture. My admiration for Batak culture seems to give them energy, confer
validity. I think of it as a tiny antidote to the hefty cultural criticism that
the Batak reaped from the West after the onset of colonialism.
I don’t
think that I am deluding myself when I conceive of finding support for the
Pulang Kampung voyage as a tiny facet of the larger issue of finding space in
the current global world for indigenous culture. Ultimately, that space must be found by the
people themselves -- in their hearts and their thoughts, their lifestyles,
goals, activities and values. Only they can demand that space.
To date, I
have been unsuccessful in finding the pot of money that will allow us to happily
rent the boat and mini-van for the project and purchase our food and lodgings.
Without these resources, the project cannot proceed. However, I discern an
important message in this failure. The message is that we must continue to look
for the path that will take us in the direction of the survival of Batak
culture. A cultural grant from some institution might be easier to obtain, but
the process will not involve the Batak people. I believe that our project will
be of much greater value if the Batak people are involved in a fundamental way
throughout. The greatest value of PKIII could well be the process of making it
happen.
The Pulang
Kampung project is about hearts and longings. “Going home” inspires a huge
range of feelings. Touchstones from our past tell us about ourselves and the
directions we are taking. Going home refreshes, renews, gives birth to, and
changes resolves. If there is no Batak will for our Pulang Kampung journey,
then its value will be minimal. However, the responses to Pulang Kampung I, my
book, MJA Nashir’s book, FB friends, audiences, and so on, have convinced me that
there is a strong will. Just a few weeks
ago, I was deeply touched by my Batak audience (Bona Pasogit) in London where I
had been asked to speak about Pulang Kampung. I was struck by the depth of
concern for what is happening back in Tano Batak and the quandary about what to
do to ameliorate it all. Sometimes I sense that the tinder is dry and that I am
a spark. If that is useful, I am happy to play that role.
While I was
in London, mas MJA Nashir was in Jakarta at the North Sumatra pavilion of the
magnificent open air museum and recreation centre, Taman Mini, exploring
options for the grand premiere of our film, Rangsa ni Tonun and the launch of
Pulang Kampung III. He met committed and concerned Batak people who understood
and endorsed our project.
Momentum is
building. Now I hope that there will not
be a large pot of money forthcoming from corporate or government sources. The
process of finding Batak support is far too valuable for it to be broken off at
this point. May the project continue to be shaped, as much as possible, by the
Batak people. May it help to create the path that will lead to important
resolutions and solutions for the future of Batak culture. May our path to realizing Proyek Pulang
Kampung III be slow enough to create a solid foundation and fast enough to
inspire, entice and encourage.