UNS — The Secretary for the Center for Excellence (PUI) Javanologi, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, Prof. Diah Kristina, M.A., Ph.D., states that Javanese society has the resilience to survive amidst the economics chaos due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Javanese society has its own values regarding the economy.
Prof. Diah states that one of the ideas is the ‘pager mangkok’ referring to the spirit of sharing with the neighbors. The word ‘pager’ means a fence, while ‘mangkok’ means bowl and is a symbol of foodstuff. Hence, the java society loves to share foodstuff with their neighbors. At the beginning of the pandemic, many people share their food stock with their neighbors.
“One of the Javanese mindset is that life is affected by the values or rules, thus human is subject of cosmic laws, it is proved by this pandemic. We never imagine, suddenly it hits us, confusing everyone and collapsing the economy,” states Prof. Diah during Wedangan IKA UNS XLV, Wednesday (17/2/2021).
Subsequently, there is another economic term saying that ‘tuna sathak bathi sanak’ providing a sense that in trading the Javanese society does not only focused on the earning and revenue, but also kinship and brotherhood. Another term used by housewives is ‘rigen’ and ‘kiyak-kiyuk’, which refers to creative and adaptable mothers in any condition. There are also ‘ora lokak malah kebak’ meaning that when we give something to someone, our possession does not reduced but increased by God’s blessing.
Another Javanese economic mindset is ‘gemi, setiti, ngati–ati, sak madya, sak cukupe, sak butuhe’, and ‘madhep ngalor sugih, madhep ngidul sugih’. “The Javanese believe that giving unconditionally is a noble action,” Dr. Diah concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
