Yogyakarta - On Monday, May 3, 2021, at 03.41 PM WIB, it became a historic moment for KAMASUTRA (Keluarga Mahasiswa Sastra Nusantara), an HMJ (Department Student Association) organization under the auspices of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program, Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), which has officially changed its name to KAMASTAWA (Keluarga Mahasiswa Sastra Jawa).

Etymologically, KAMASTAWA comes from Sanskrit which consists of the word 'kāma' which means affection and loyalty and 'stawa' which means prayer, hope, and praise. Overall, the meaning of Kamastawa is a hope for the Javanese Literature Student Family to always love each other, love and have a high spirit of loyalty to the Javanese Language, Literature and Study Program.

The process of determining this name change was carried out online through a Zoom Meeting, with the Head of the KAMASTAWA for the 2021/2022 period, Na'il Yuwana Firdaus, as the official signatory of the name change. Furthermore, this decision received approval from the supervisor of the KAMASTAWA, namely a lecturer in Javanese Language, Literature and Culture with a field of study in philology, Zakariya Pamuji Amirullah, S.S., M.A..

This change is in line with the Decree of the Student Association of the Javanese Literature Department, Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta Number 001/KAMASTAWA/IV/2021 concerning Changes in the Abbreviation of the KAMASTAWA. The reason behind this name change is to achieve harmony between the Javanese Literature Study Program, Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, and the name of the related student association.

This decision is also based on the results of the KAMASTAWA bylaws session on March 20, 2021 and the results of the Special Member Deliberation of the Javanese Literature Student Family for the 2021/2022 period on April 4, 2021, both of which were held online through Zoom Meeting and Google Meet.

Apart from the name change, there is also a change in the KAMASTAWA  logo, part of the script found at the top of the lingga-yoni which has been adjusted to the new abbreviation. In addition, the script used in the new logo is Old Javanese script, replacing the Dewanagari script in the old logo.

(Old Logo)

(New Logo)

With this name change that reflects a new identity, KAMASTAWA is even more enthusiastic in providing opportunities for its members to study, preserve, and revive the cultural heritage of Java.

Sunday (08/22/2021), the Javanese Literature Student Family (KAMASTAWA) acted to care for others in the Kulon Progo area, Yogyakarta. This caring activity for others is called Sastra Jawa Berbagi. Sastra Jawa Berbagi is a work program of the KAMASTAWA from the Social Society division. 

Through Sharing Javanese Literature, all academics of the Javanese Literature study program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, have the opportunity to contribute by assisting in the form of funds and wearable clothing. The fundraising and decent clothes were carried out by the which started on July 23 to August 10, 2021 with the results of cash amounting to IDR 1,050,000 and 10 large bags of decent clothes.

Many people think that all people in the Yogyakarta area may have guaranteed welfare. However, in reality, there are still many people who need our help and concern, such as the residents of Kalirejo Village, Sangon II, Kokap, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. Not only one or two people, but most of the people are retarded, be it mentally, psychologically, or economically.

At that time, KAMASTAWA's friends had the opportunity to directly visit approximately thirty families with special needs. This activity also involved the "Baitunnajah" Social Welfare Institution in Kalirejo Village, Kokap, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta.

Even though they had to go through an inadequate access road, this did not dampen the KAMASTAWA friends' intention to carry out this activity. The care and sincerity given through the package of basic needs, created smiles for those who received it.. Of course, this gives happiness to KAMASTAWA friends who can directly contribute to these activities.

Writer & editor : Anggra Dini

On September 27–30, 2019, HMJ KAMASUTRA in collaboration with the UGM Javanese Literature Study Program presented a manuscript tadarus performance in an invitation to the event Jogja Literature Festival 2019. The event was one of GAMASUTRA's first collaborative stages carried out in a modern theatrical style. In this performance, GAMASUTRA representatives read the text of the Babad Trunajaya-Surapati (transliterated by Sudibjo Z.H. and translated by R.Soeparno).

For ten days from 10 to 20 September 2019, Osaka University, Japan, together with the Javanese Literature Study Program, Language and Literature Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada held a cultural collaboration program. This activity is the second time an Indonesian-Javanese cultural visit has been held between Osaka University and Universitas Gadjah Mada since 2017. During this visit, Dr. Yumi Sugahara as a student accompanying the lecturer brought a group of around 19 students. At the beginning of the visit, the Head of the Javanese Literature Study Program, Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya, M.Hum. warmly welcomed the visit with 26 Javanese Literature students and their prospective companions at the Winotosastro hotel.

The activity began with the opening of the event in the Multimedia Room, 2nd floor of the Margono Building FIB UGM. The event was opened by the Dean of FIB, Dr. Wening Udasmoro, M.Hum., DEA, and continued with an introduction to Japanese culture. While in Yogyakarta, the Osaka student group studied at FIB and outside FIB. Visits to several cultural sites such as Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, Pakualaman Temple, Yogyakarta Palace, and Imogiri Cemetery have encouraged them to learn about the culture contained in each destination. For example, when they visited Pakualaman Temple, they learned how to make batik and Jemparingan (a traditional archery sport in Java). Apart from that, when they were at FIB UGM, they also learned about puppets and how to play Javanese gamelan.

While they were in Yogyakarta, Osaka students also conducted interviews to practice their fluency in Indonesian. To realize this goal, they formed small groups to interview Javanese Literature students and also the people around where they were staying. The interview topics raised included the lives of Indonesian people, from a healthy lifestyle, and traffic, to the news media in Indonesia. Indirectly, it sharpens them to speak Indonesian well. The results of the interview were then compiled into a slide which was presented at the closing of the student visit to Osaka University.

The closing of the Osaka University Cultural Visit event was held on September 19, 2019 in the Multimedia Room, 2nd Floor, Margono Building. The closing ceremony began with the distribution of certificates and their scores while studying in Yogyakarta. After that, the event continued with presentations from Osaka University students regarding the results of their interviews. After the presentation, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, M. Hum. as Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs closed the event while advising that the collaboration between Universita Gadjah Mada and Osaka University in terms of cultural exchange should continue to be developed in the future. Not only that, the closing ceremony also presented performances from Javanese Literature students and students from Osaka University itself. Some of the performances included: traditional dances by Javanese Literature students; Japanese singing and dancing by students of Osaka University; an Indonesian-language song composed by Osaka University students specially dedicated for the closing ceremony, and a farewell song sung in bilingual (Javanese and Indonesian) by students of Javanese Literature and Osaka University interspersed with poetry readings by students of Osaka University. The event officially ended with selfies and meals.

On Tuesday, September 10, 2019, new students were invited by the Head of the UGM Javanese Literature Study Program, Dr. Sri Ratna Saktimulya M.Hum. to participate in the Pura Pakualaman Labuhan event. The ceremony which is held every 10th of Muharram or 10th of Suro is intended as a form of gratitude to God Almighty for still being able to experience the Javanese New Year. Apart from that, Labuhan is also a symbol of 'getting rid of bad luck' by the Javanese so that the year to be passed will be filled with good things, while bad things will stay away. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out direct interaction between students and Javanese culture itself so that the direct picture that has been obtained can be used as a means to develop their scientific competence.

In its implementation, participating students were gathered at Pakualaman Temple at 06.30 AM WIB, followed by a bus trip to Pesanggrahan Glagah. Arriving there, all the participants carried out the carnival to the Joglo Labuhan. Then, several mountains floated into the sea. It was a very enjoyable and memorable day for Javanese Literature students. In addition to increasing knowledge, experience, and direct cultural interaction, this field lecture also functions as a medium for developing scientific competence.

On August 22 and 23, 2019, the Javanese Literature Study Program held a joint seminar with ATMA (Institut Alam dan Tamadun Melayu), UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) from Malaysia. SEMEJA is an abbreviation of the Malay-Javanese Seminar which is a collaboration between ATMA, UKM and the Javanese Literature Study Program, Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). SEMEJA is an annual event that is held alternately every year. Previously, this event was held at ATMA, UKM, Malaysia and this year it was held at FIB UGM.

The SEMEJA event was attended by seven lecturers from ATMA, UKM, Malaysia, who were presenters at the seminar, and 11 lecturers from the Javanese Literature Study Program FIB UGM. This seminar talked a lot about history and culture both in Malaysia and in Java. Apart from the SEMEJA event, to be precise after the second day of SEMEJA, the event was continued with a public lecture filled by Prof. Madya Nor Zalina Harun and attended by students of Javanese Literature Study Program, FIB UGM.

Bayat Sub-district, which belongs to Klaten Regency, is located in the southern corner of the region, bordering Gunungkidul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region to the south, Cawas Sub-district to the east, Wedi Sub-district to the west and Trucuk Sub-district to the north. Bayat Sub-district is located in a limestone mountainous area parallel to the Gunungkidul region, so the appearance of the area is hilly and the majority of its citizens do not depend on farming, but many work as craftsmen, ranging from pottery, various kinds of stone tools, to batik cloth.

Bayat sub-district is an important region in history, even though it is not located in the center of government. This is evident from various stories about the area, many of which are associated with a figure who lived around the 16th century, named Ki Ageng Pandanaran. He was a regent of Semarang who resigned from power and chose to spread Islam under the title Sunan Tembayat in this area until the end of his life. In addition to the figure of Sunan Tembayat, this area also has many other historical figures who came from the transition of the Majapahit era to Demak Bintara, such as Seh Sabuk Janur, Ki Ageng Becik, Seh Domba, Ki Ageng Konang, Ki Ageng Menang Lase, Ki Ageng Santri, Pangeran Menangkabo and Panembahan Jiwa. They have their own stories in the context of their roles as leaders of the local community since the days of Demak, Mataram until it was split into Surakarta and Yogyakarta. This shows that this area, apart from its old age, also has its place in historical dynamics.

Bayat District has approximately ten batik industry centers with their uniqueness and specialization. Several batik production centers in the Bayat sub-district include stamped batik in Beluk Village, hand-written batik in Needle Village and Kebon Village, and lurk woven batik in Tegalrejo Village. The batik industry in Bayat has been hereditary and has become one of the regional suppliers of batik cloth to the Klewer market in Surakarta and Beringharjo in Yogyakarta several decades ago. Batik produced in the Bayat area itself has many variations, ranging from classic batik which has a characteristic color sogan for jarit or nyamping, modern batik with natural colors like indigo (indigovera), contemporary motives for consumption fashion, and the tastes of international buyers, to the combination of luck and batik in media other than fabrics such as wood batik, leather batik and so on.

As an area that is thick with historical nuances, Bayat District certainly has a lot of local wisdom, one of which is in the form of traditional songs, spells, prayers, tattoos, and wise advice that is useful for the community to address various phenomena of life in the present and anticipate things that may occur in the future. Besides that, a lot petilasan or the historical footprint of many figures from the eras of Hinduism, and Islam to the last Javanese kingdoms in this region shows that of course there will be many related folktales to be found, which apart from being able to function as a medium for historical reminders also contain various cultural values. In addition, the Bayat area has also become an important part of the history of Javanese literature, because at the gate of the tomb of Sunan Tembayat was also found the sengkalan or chronogram, titles Murti Sarira Jleging Ratu(1448) and Wisaya Hanata Wisiking Ratu(1555), whose typeface is archaic, contemporaneous with texts found in coastal areas, including Primbon Sunan Bonang which is stored in the Asian Library Library, Leiden University. These things have not been optimally exposed especially about Bayat as one of the handicraft industry centers in Klaten. Community Service (PPM) carried out by the Javanese Literature Study Program, Language and Literature Department, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta this time will focus on developing batik motifs filled with folklore and local wisdom with Javanese written media, both modern and modern Javanese styles. known today as well as the 'Sunan Tembayat style' which is depicted in ancient tomb complexes in this area.

The aim of the PPM Javanese Literature Study Program in Bayat District, Klaten Regency, which was held on July 15, 2019, was to strengthen Bayat's identity as a religious and historical tourism destination, a center for the UMKM industry (Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises) in the handicraft sector as well as one of the areas with a specific in the field of culture, besides that, it is also to form a community group that manages the potential for cultural arts and history in Bayat District, Klaten Regency.

The expected results in community service activities are Bayat District as the Study Program Foster Area, more specifically to strengthen the existence of Bayat District, Klaten Regency as an area that has a distinctive and strong-rooted cultural character.

The results obtained from the activity 'Community Service: Development of Batik Motifs Based on Folklore and Javanese Script in Bayat District, Klaten Regency' is the creation of the 'Udan Riris Majaarum' batik motif. This motif can be used by the community as a batik motif characteristic of the Needle Village, Bayat District. In addition to batik motifs outcome of this activity is the article 'Creating a New Motive for the Identity of Needle Village, Bayat District, Klaten Regency' which is planned to be published in the Bakti Budaya Journal and activity documentation.