[Unpad.ac.id, 18/12/2012] Sunda, one of the greatest ethnicities in Indonesia, should actually maintain a strong existence. However, it has now been overwhelmed with social problems that, if left unattended, would lead to extinction of Sunda and make it simply remembered through history books.
Such remark was made by the rector, Prof. Ganjar Kurnia, when speaking at Sundanese Culture Basic Training, organized by Research and Community Development Center (LPPM) Unpad on Tuesday (18/12) at Bale Sawala, Unpad Rectorate Building.
“Sunda supposedly covers Cimanuk in Banten all the way to Cipamali in Central Java. Sadly, several regions separated and now are separating, like Banten and Jakarta. Cirebon is thinking about establishing its own provincial government,” said he.
Sunda is divided into two groups, the Greater Sunda and the Lesser Sunda. The Greater Sunda covers four major islands in Indonesia, namely Sumatera, Kalimantan, Java and Sulawesi. As for Lesser Sunda, it includes Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusatenggara. The naming of the two groups has yet to be widely known by most Indonesians. “Perhaps, there is this systematic scheme to actually delete the term Sunda,” added he jokingly.
Sunda cannot compete with other ethnicities. The rough participation rate of Sundanese people reaches only 47,82% which makes West Java province ranks third from the bottom in Indonesia. What’s more, mean year of schooling in the province is only 8 years. “Our Human Development Index ranks the 17th due to high infant mortality rate, reaching 24,000 cases annually,” said he.
The poor condition is made worse by the minute awareness for environment, the less and less favored Sundanese language as communication tool, and the extinction of approximately 500 traditional Sundanese arts.
The event, therefore, is expected to bring back the awareness of the Sundanese people to maintain their own tradition. It is the responsibility of each individual.
