The Reformer

          

The Reformer 

There’s a fine statue in Jakarta of Harjuna* and Kreshna* standing in their warrior chariot drawn by eight fiery  horses. How it stirs the imagination of one who watches this artistic work for a long while. 

Harjuna  had just  shot his arrow into the air, fighting, warring evil spirits which are hovering over the earth, whispering wicked spells into the people’s heart. When these spirits are among happy, cheerful people, unrest, envy, suffering, destruction, quarrels arise and tears are flowing.  

Evil spirits carry disaster, enlightened whisperings bring blessings said si upik.

I remember Pak Arif’s enlightened thought. He said that he isn’t offended, doesn’t envy others who can afford to stay in a five star hotel, have a mansion as a palace, owning many giant corporations, tour the world, eating steak, ice cream, wine every day and he doesn’t. His feet are  worth more than a Mercy, his brain and body are  even more than computers and a space station. His health, freedom, happiness is turning the simplest foods into a heavenly meal. 

He doesn’t have to trouble, to busy, to worry himself about reforming the country and the people as many people already chase, compete, busy themselves after it. He feels himself so rich, what, whom should he envy, ha, ha, ha, he laughed. In fact, pak Arif could only afford to buy himself a  bicycle.    

And where the chariot passed, where the horses ran, galloped and stepped,  springs were spouting, welling  up clear, fresh water. The earth became fertile, green, trees growing, heavy with abundant fruits, the paddy  rich in golden showers,  flowers bloomed birds were warbling, butterflies, dragon flies hovering, … even when it was a dreary, dry, rocky region before. 

When they passed through the ruins of a fire or the remains of a plunder, there was new construction,  when they passed through poor, forlorn villages the villages  prosper, there was no unrest, suffering, hate, jealousy, blackmail, And when they visited government buildings, there was no so called Corruption, Collusion, Nepotism anymore. Anywhere, any place they visited became peaceful and something of a paradise. 

  Following “Kreshna’s divine advice, Harjuna traveled, rode the whole land to establish a dream kingdom, Indraprastha. “Oh, no, that’s not Harjuna, but he is the Reformer, building a new, prosperous, happy, peaceful, beautiful Indonesia!” whispered an inner voice and I waked up from my reverie.

It’s a pity that this should just only be a dream.  

* Note

Harjuna a hero, Kresha a God in the Mahabharata  

                                                                                             From Suara Karya, August 24, 1998