Socio-Historical and Cultural Aspects of Kalang Community: Study of Javanese Sub-Culture

Key words: Kalang, tradition, Yogyakarta, Socio-Cultural aspects

by: Suharyana, Warto and Buchari S

This research focuses to study the socio-cultural characteristic of Kalang community which lives in the city and rural areas in Yogyakarta. Besides, this research aims to find out the special characteristic of Kalang people which is different with the Javanese. Furthermore, this research is used to find out the way to maintain the ancestor values and the identity of their group. In Yogyakarta, Kalang spread and live in various area and have mingled with the Javanese. This research employed historical method in accordance with the problem which has been proposed. The technique applied in this research was interactive technique model. Kalang community has a long history in Java. Although it is still being a historiography puzzle, Kalang as a term is well known in Java society. Kalang is considered as a tribe (volkstam) which lives to roam in the Java forest. Since the 17th century, some of them are live permanently and have a certain position in colonial and traditional social structure in Yogyakarta. The character of Kalang community which are strong, agile, unyielding, energetic, tough, never give up, and skillfull make them success in economic sector. Those strong characteristic have been shown by Kalang people in Yogyakarta. It has proved by the historical existence of Kalang. Generally, it is not difficult for them to adapt the socio-cultural environment. It means that they can comprehend the socio-cultural and economic situation and condition although they have to face the unfortunate reality.
The relationship of Kalang is determined by patrilineal line (pancer lanang). It can be said that somebody is pure Kalang if his father, grandfather and so forth are Kalang. Kalang named his descendant as Kalang Obong, while the descendant from surrogate father is called Kalang Kamplong. This differentiation brings consequence in terms of rights and obligations in social relationship. In Yogyakarta, the condition of this kind of kinship has changed significantly, especially their young generation. It is different with another region such as Ambal,, Gombong, Central Java.
Phisically, Kalang are not different with the Javanese in 19th century. They have brown skin, black hair and black eyes with Mongolia’s fold. However, particularly, their appearances are different with others. Kalang are handsome and pretty, neat, dignified and generous. Moreover in certain event, they look like a wealthy people. However, people ever believe that Kalang ancestor has a tail. Kalang people still respect their ancestor up till now although various traditions have changed. As a matter of fact, in Yogyakarta this tradition is already lost or even though if still exist, in doing so, it is not as glory as in the early of 20th century. Kalang in Yogyakarta are divided based on the living place and the environment; Kalang who live in the city and those who live in the rural areas. Kalang who live in the city work as entrepreneur in several field such as pawning, hotel, transportation, and shopping center. While Kalang who live in the rural areas work as the head of district who have very wide land.
Nowadays, Kalang descendant have mingled and have integrated although there is no certain pattern. Moreover, they have taken a similar role with the Javanese. In Yogyakarta, Kalang people still maintain their traditional values by doing sadranan in Ngoto graveyard on Sya’ban (eighty month of the Moslem calendar). Beside sadranan, on Syawal (the tenth month of the Moslem calendar) there is an annual event named Ngabekten, which is done alternately on 1430 H or 2009M in Ambal, Gombong, Central Java. Unfortunately, this is become the last event which had been held by Kalang society.