ID Nugroho , The Jakarta Post , Surabaya | Fri, 08/22/2008 10:20 AM | Lifestyle
Leaning on a long cupboard in the Blitar graveyard's administration office, Slamet jots down data of visitors to the grave of Indonesia's first president, Soekarno.
"I've been a caretaker for the grave of Bung Karno (brother Soekarno) for the past 29 years," he told The Jakarta Post.
Slamet became the official caretaker of Soekarno's grave on July 18, 1979 -- nine years after Bung Karno was buried in Blitar.
"At the time I had only finished elementary school and I needed a job. All the people working here turned down this opportunity. Instead, I accepted it," Slamet recalled.
The grave of Bung Karno, as he was -- and still is -- affectionately known, is located in the Bendongerit sub-district of Sananwetan Regency, in Blitar City, East Java.
Blitar, which is located 170 kilometers south of Surabaya, is the final resting place of Bung Karno, who was buried there on June 21, 1970.
Blitar is known as "Soekarno City" because it is the location of the Palace Gate, the place where Soekarno's father, mother and sister lived.
Every June, Blitar honors Bung Karno and celebrates the birthday of Pancasila (the five basic principles of the Republic).
Yet not every resident in Blitar cares for the late president, especially since his political career was colored with unexplained events surrounding the alleged 1965 attempted coup by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Slamet, himself a Blitar-born resident, initially didn't care that Bung Karno was head of the state.
"At that time I only knew Soekarno as the proklamator of the Republic," he said.
At the beginning, working as a caretaker wasn't something to be proud of, he added. The job only entailed cleaning the late president's grave and maintaining some of the monuments and buildings at the graveyard.
For his efforts, Slamet received a starting salary of Rp 12,000 per month (US$1.20 today, although about US$6 back then).
"I could only be patient and accept the wages by understanding that this was the situation for someone who had only finished elementary school."
His patience was rewarded. Six years and seven months later, on March 31, 1986, Slamet's fate improved when he was appointed a member of the government staff under the Tourist Department of Blitar City.
"Since then, my fate has gradually changed; my wages have risen to Rp 1.8 million per month (US$200)," the father of three said.
Yet, after 29 years of taking care of Soekarno's grave, Slamet confessed he did not know much about Soekarno's philosophy nor his political stance.
"I only know that Soekarno was the first president of liberated Indonesia."
"I do remember Bung Karno's statement: 'I entrust this nation to you'," said Slamet, referring to Soekarno's speech to the new nation's youth.
Slamet said many people still visit Bung Karno's grave. On an average day, the number of visitors is between 700 and 1,000. During the holiday season, the number increases to up to 6,000 a day.
And the visitors aren't just Indonesians, Slamet said. They also come from abroad.
"Most foreign visitors are from Holland and France."
He said some people came to visit the grave for research, while others came to pray.
"Many visitors come and want to stay for a long time. But according to a government decree, this is not allowed. If a visitor comes at night, they are only allowed to pray for 15 minutes."
As a grave caretaker, Slamet often sleeps near Bung Karno's grave, which he believes is surrounded by strong, mystical elements. One example, said Slamet, was a dream he had after sleeping at the sight for seven consecutive Friday nights.
"When I slept I dreamt I heard a person's voice who gave me a white kerosene lamp, and within ten days I was appointed as a government employee, praise God."
According to Slamet the mystical elements and Bung Karno's charisma have encouraged many important people to visit his grave. They include President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former president Abdurahman Wahid, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, Agum Gumelar, Wiranto and Sutrisno Bachir.
Other visitors have been candidates seeking election seats as regional heads.
"The late President Soeharto visited the grave only once when it was built in 1979.
"My children are proud because I was the person this grave was entrusted to. But not one of my children wishes to follow in my footsteps," Slamet said with a chuckle.
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