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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