Taken from ‘Bungklang Bungkling’, ‘Gelar’, a column by I Wayan Juniartha, published in Bali Post, Sunday 28th February 2011. Translated by Putu Semiada.
Title (Gelar)
Today one is considered ‘successful’ when one is very rich.
“No matter how people hate the corruptor Gayus, many want to be like him — having billions of money, blocks of gold, and can go anywhere one wants,” comments I Made Pacul Lacur Jadul (Old Fashion and Poor)
Given the above, one’s fortune is above everything — as it is an indicator of being successful.
What if one is not rich: are there other ways one can be considered “successful?” Well, one has to have high position in the administration. Once someone has a position, people will respect him, even though he is not rich. His family and relatives will be very proud of him, once he becomes a head of district (camat), for instance. Someone even has more respect when he becomes a mayor (bupati) or governor (gubernur) or minister. But a Balinese will never dream to be president. No matter how many times he has to undergo reincarnation process or how many times he becomes an “ancestral god”, he will never make it.
So when someone has a high position, whether he is rich or not, he is still considered as “successful.
“He doesn’t need to worry about his fortune: No people with high position are poor. Once he has a position, money just comes like that.”
“He will get various kind of income — from fees, dirty money, budget allocation — that he can use for any purpose (dana taktis), income from ‘unclear ‘ resources (dana hantu), extra allowance (tunjangan jabatan), house, office car, uniform, and secret lover as well.”
“Compared to foreign country — where one might want to have a position to build his country — here it is in the opposite: someone wants to have a position to escape from poverty and increase his standard of living.”
Everyone nods. They now recall that once there was a person whose dream was to drive a Land Cruiser Prado once he was appointed a mayor. They also think of some people who wouldn’t be able to go overseas for holidays if they didn’t become legislative members.
What if someone is not rich, are there other ways he can be considered ‘successful?’
“Well, he has to have high position in administration Once one has a position, people will respect him, even though he is not rich. His family and relatives will be very proud of him, once he becomes a head of district (camat), for instance. He can even have more respect when he becomes a mayor (bupati) or governor (gubernur) or minister, but not a president as it is impossible for a Balinese to be president in Indonesia. No matter how many times he has to undergo reincarnation process or how many times one becomes an “ancestral god” (Dewa Hyang), he will never make it.”
If someone is not rich nor having high position, he is still considered as successful if he has academic titles, as many as possible.
The more one has academic titles, the wiser and smarter he is considered.
He can even become an observer (pengamat).
There have always been jobs available for observers. And almost everyday we can see a new observer. Formerly you only had politics, economy and cultural observers, now you can even have fertilizer price and black magic observers.
“Once you have academic titles and give sensational comments and criticism, you will become popular and marketable. And the money comes to you automatically. You can become a consultant or member of a special expert team.”
Everyone nods. They understand well what I Made says as they often read comments from various observers which are full of bullshit — good at commenting, but no action at all.
That’s probably why many high ranking official go to university to obtain academic titles: they just want to increase their prestige.
A comment is much appreciated when it comes from a high ranking official with many academic titles, no matter how useless and stupid it is, and nobody will dare to argue.
Nowadays many Balinese who don’t have positions anymore, or don’t have a fortune, start to get royal titles.
They are afraid that no people will respect them. They try to have royal titles, such as “Raja” just to make an impression that they are still powerful and successful. They try this way because it is much easier to get this kind of title than academic ones. To have such a title, one doesn’t have to study or pay university fees; one doesn’t need to make thesis or dissertation, or to bribe so as to be able finish studies as soon as possible.
“But the titles one has to have are Raja Dalem/Tjokorda Agung: never take a lower one, such as Gusti.
If one wants to be considered as a ‘successful person’, he has to be rich; if not, he must have a high position in administration, the other way is by having some academic titles (such as honoris causa Doctor which one can have by paying Rp. 30 million), or get a royal title.
What happens then to a Balinese who has no chance to achieve the above?
“Well, we can transmigrate, let just Bali be owned by our successful brothers.”
Everyone laughs. They now recall that there was a rich person with a high position who once said that the Balinese farmers should transmigrate so that this island can be totally changed into a tourism resort.
“Who does he think owns the island?”
