Bali,
Island of the gods, Introduction
Even
today, there is a certain magic about Bali. The longer one
stays on the island, the more one is impressed by the many
exquisite sights and the scores of talented and charming
people one encounters. All the tourist hype aside, Bali
truly is exceptional.
The
island of Bali indeed presents a modern paradox - an ancient,
traditional society that is still incredibly alive and vital.
While the basic conservatism of the Balinese has enabled
them to preserve many of their past achievements, it has
never hindered the acceptance of new and innovative elements,
whether home-grown or foreign.
How
are we to account for the island's fabled cultural wealth?
A fortuitous congruence of circumstances - accidents, really,
of geography and history, seems responsible.
First
and foremost, Bali is extraordinarily blessed by Nature.
Lying within a narrow band of the tropics where wet and
dry seasons fall roughly into balance - providing both adequate
rainfall and long periods of sunshine - the island's soils,
topography and water resources are all remarkably well suited
to human habitation. As a result, Bali has been civilized
since very early times.
This
is also the only island in "inner Indonesia" that
has enjoyed centuries of more or less uninterrupted cultural
continuity. While other traditional states in the region
suffered major disruptions due to Islamization and Dutch
colonization, Bali was isolated, left to go her own way.
As
a result, this is the only area of Indonesia that remains
"Hindu" today - retaining elements of the great
fusion of indigenous and Indian cultures which took place
over a thousand years ago. When Bali was finally colonized
by the Dutch, at the turn of this century, the European
invaders were so fascinated by what they found here that
a concerted effort was made to preserve and foster the island's
traditional culture.
Balinese
society remains strong and vital, moreover, because it promotes
family and communal values. This is indeed the key - a self-strengthening
system in which religion, custom and art combine with age-old
childrearing techniques and deeply-entrenched village institutions
to produce an exceptionally well-integrated society. Feelings
of alienation from parents and peers, so common now in the
West are rare in Bali.
Children
are carried everywhere until they are at least three months
old, held at all times in the warm, protective embrace of
family, friends and neighbors. Elaborate rituals are performed
at frequent intervals to ensure their well-being. Every
aspect of village life is organized to the nth degree -
the individual's rights and responsibilities within the
community being carefully defined by tradition.
Despite
all this, it should be noted that traditional Bali was far
from perfect. For the majority of Balinese peasants, it
was in fact a world wracked by warfare, disease, pestilence
and famine. In this century, moreover, Bali was continuously
plagued by political violence, over-population and poverty.
Bali's
unique culture should in fact be viewed as a response to
difficult, uncertain conditions. Its strong village institutions
served as bulwarks against the ever-present threat of disaster;
their inherent flexibility was a guarantee of survival in
the face of often overwhelming odds.
The
rapid changes now occurring on the island must be seen from
this historical perspective. Certainly there are problems,
some perhaps as serious as those faced in earlier times.
But the Balinese are eternal optimists, fervently believing
that their "Island of the Gods" enjoys a very
special place indeed in the grander scheme of things.
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