In 2022, as the number of COVID-19 cases declines, we want to hold collaborative cultural activities between Yogyakarta and West Java artists.
Bandung (ANTARA) - West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has said that his administration is ready to help translate the Babad Padjadjaran (Chronicle of Padjadjaran) from ancient Javanese to the Latin and Indonesian languages.

"Translating the Babad Padjadjaran is important to understand more about the history of cultural relations between the Sundanese and Javanese," he said in a statement received on Thursday.

He shared the translation plan with senior Indonesian artist Butet Kartaredjasa while visiting the artist’s residence in Bantul district, Yogyakarta province.

The cultural cooperation between the provinces of West Java, which is mostly populated by the Sundanese, and Yogyakarta, which is mostly populated by the Javanese, started with the mutual visit of the governors in December 2021.

A cultural meeting and performance were also held in Bandung city, West Java province, in December 2021.

"In 2022, as the number of COVID-19 cases declines, we want to hold collaborative cultural activities between Yogyakarta and West Java artists. For instance, there is Padjadjaran Chronicle, which we have not thoroughly understood since it is written in the ancient Javanese language," Kamil added.

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He expressed the hope that cultural dialogue would calm the heated political conditions ahead of the general elections in 2024.

Meanwhile, Kartaredjasa said that he was surprised by the visit from the governor, who is also an old friend, since they had not met in a long time.

"I am really surprised to have him visit me as a fellow artist, as he is also an architect. It is inspirational to have cultural reconciliation between the Javanese and Sundanese since, according to history, there is a tension between the two cultures," he remarked.

Hence, he said he welcomed the intention of the West Java government to support the translation of the chronicle.

In addition, the translation attempt will help Javanese literature actors to create more works in the midst of the pandemic.

“The project will involve many fellow artists, including writers and poets, thus, current Javanese and Sundanese people can understand the values of cultural wisdom of the chronicle written by the old Javanese poets," the artist added.

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Translator: Ajat Sudrajat, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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