What we might have is a post-independence / kamardikan keris industries, being told from perhaps another perspective. The author might not be a collector nor in love with keris, instead she was fascinated with the industry, which by then is one of a rural economic activities. If that is so, I expect the esoteric aspect of the keris-making will be mentioned less.
Also worth knowing is how big the industries are by then. Does most village has its own besalen?
As you said, David, it might worth checking.
BTW, do you think Obama should have interests in keris?
He might have a short spell of living in the Indonesia, but most of us did not even lived there, isn't it?
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