Bambang Harsrinuksmo

ganjawulung · 26th October 2007, 11:57 AM

Dear All,

This is not about keris, but about a man who had given his part of his life for this keris world. Yes, he had passed away three years ago, even only a couple months before the launching of his lifetime book, Keris Ensiklopedi (2004).

I knew him personally since 1996, when I and my colleague organized a Tosan Aji Exhibition (including keris) in Bentara Budaya, Jakarta. As what people talk about him, according to me he was a humble man with so much works. A silent person with no commercial interest. He was living with keris, but not earned much his living from keris. And of course, he was not trading with keris, or commissioning kerises somewhere, and then selling those kerises somewhere else with higher price… Not at all.

The monumental of his work for Indonesian keris? Yes, he is the one who urge a Madurese (Mr Jaknal) to build the first “besalen” for making kerises in Madura, in early 70s. The only one besalen, among hundreds of pandai besi – who made cangkul and any kinds of agricultural tools – existing in Madura in early 70s. But now? So many besalen, and so many pandai besi in Madura turn their lives to earn living on making kerises. Keris industry is developping in Madura now…

He was a journalist, but since 1983 spent all his life in writing and writing books. And the most spectacular work of him, is the six volumes of Ensiklopedi Wayang which was published by Yayasan Senawangi (2000). He had made this 3.000 pages Ensiklopedi almost all alone: from data collecting, making interviews, writing the data in his computers, making layout of his Ensiklopedi, making the graphic illustration (he was a good graphic painter too), and even … salesman for his own Ensiklopedi… It was a culmination of his 11 years of works, since 1989.

Did he earn much from this spectacular book? Not at all. From the first edition of 1.000 sets of Ensiklopedi Wayang, he only got honorarium of 60 million rupiahs, or as valuable as 5.000 euros. Thus, if he had spent 11 years in writing this book with tears, then his “salary” for working this Ensiklopedi was only around 37 euros per month!

On Ensiklopedi Keris in 2004? Except 6 pages of Mr Suwarsono Lumintu writing, Bambang had been “building” this Ensiklopedi almost all alone: 600 pages with around 2.000 entries. For how long? Almost 20 years of his life. Though not a perfect work, but at least this ensiklopedi is still becoming one of keris reference. And the first book on keris with the format of simple Encyclopaedia, or kind of Keris Vocabulary…

At least he had written five books on keris. One of them, is “Dapur Keris” (1981) by Pusat Keris Jakarta, reprinted three times and 3.000 copies each. Other books, “Pamor Keris” (1983), four times reprinted with total 12.000 copies. “Tanya Jawab Soal Keris” (Ask and Answer on Keris) also 1983, four times reprinted with 3.000 copies each print. And also, “Mengungkap Rahasia Isi Keris” (Revealing The Secret of Keris’ Spirit) by Pustaka Grafikatama 1986, three times reprinted too with each print of 3.000 copies.

Beside Ensiklopedi Budaya Nasional (the first edition of the Ensiklopedi) which was copied by so many keris lover – because of only limited edition – Bambang also wrote small book such “Cara Praktis Merawat Keris” (Practical Guide to Maintain Kerises).

So? His life is not a farce at all, for this keris world…

Ganjawulung

ganjawulung · 27th October 2007, 10:36 AM

Less than a year before he passed away in 11th Desember 2003, Bambang gave me this book. (The title, “Orang Biasa” or Ordinary People). A draft of his otobiography (printed with computer, maybe only three copies). He asked me to read the draft, before it would be published for his own family. (He died before the book was ever published).…

The story of his life is interesting. Especially about “six days in coma”, when he was unconscious between 9-15 September of 1996. (The first chapter in his draft book). He tried to reconstruct his memory, during the “dying days” of 1996. What did he see in coma?

He felt like in a very long rock cave, very dark, lighted only by “bara api” , kind of ember or live coal… Not like dreaming, but he felt like real… Doctor said, he should had died in 1996. But yet, recovered again before died in Desember 2003.

Ganjawulung

Marcokeris · 27th October 2007, 12:40 PM

Thanks Ganja.
I never met mr. Harsrinuksmo and now you give me the confirm he was an extraordinary person. Thanks a lot again

John · 27th October 2007, 02:41 PM

Thanks for sharing Ganja. I had the privilege of an email exchange with the Bambang shortly before his passing and I like the man, a gentleman.

ganjawulung · 30th October 2007, 09:57 AM

Dear Marco, John, and All,

About one or two year before he died, Bambang Harsrinuksmo also had a "brilliant idea" of issuing certificate of keris. (This is one example of his certification, please look at this pics): http://www.heritageofjava.com/keris/sertifikat_01.html

Maybe this is the only one "commercial side" in the life of Bambang. But Bambang -- in my opinion -- tried to be objective in certificating kerises. And like as if certificate of "graduation" in schools, it has "identity photo" of the keris itself...

Unfortunately, this certification had stopped as he passed away in 2003.

Ganjawulung

David · 30th October 2007, 03:31 PM

Sorry, i see nothing "brilliant" about a keris certificate. Opinions on keris are so subjective at times. One "experts" opinion can sometimes vary greatly from another. I find the certificates issued to be fairly useless except as a selling ploy to the uneducated. No matter how "objective" you believe Bambang was in this process it was still only an opinion.

26th October 2007, 11:57 AM	#1
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Bambang Harsrinuksmo Dear All, This is not about keris, but about a man who had given his part of his life for this keris world. Yes, he had passed away three years ago, even only a couple months before the launching of his lifetime book, Keris Ensiklopedi (2004). I knew him personally since 1996, when I and my colleague organized a Tosan Aji Exhibition (including keris) in Bentara Budaya, Jakarta. As what people talk about him, according to me he was a humble man with so much works. A silent person with no commercial interest. He was living with keris, but not earned much his living from keris. And of course, he was not trading with keris, or commissioning kerises somewhere, and then selling those kerises somewhere else with higher price… Not at all. The monumental of his work for Indonesian keris? Yes, he is the one who urge a Madurese (Mr Jaknal) to build the first “besalen” for making kerises in Madura, in early 70s. The only one besalen, among hundreds of pandai besi – who made cangkul and any kinds of agricultural tools – existing in Madura in early 70s. But now? So many besalen, and so many pandai besi in Madura turn their lives to earn living on making kerises. Keris industry is developping in Madura now… He was a journalist, but since 1983 spent all his life in writing and writing books. And the most spectacular work of him, is the six volumes of Ensiklopedi Wayang which was published by Yayasan Senawangi (2000). He had made this 3.000 pages Ensiklopedi almost all alone: from data collecting, making interviews, writing the data in his computers, making layout of his Ensiklopedi, making the graphic illustration (he was a good graphic painter too), and even … salesman for his own Ensiklopedi… It was a culmination of his 11 years of works, since 1989. Did he earn much from this spectacular book? Not at all. From the first edition of 1.000 sets of Ensiklopedi Wayang, he only got honorarium of 60 million rupiahs, or as valuable as 5.000 euros. Thus, if he had spent 11 years in writing this book with tears, then his “salary” for working this Ensiklopedi was only around 37 euros per month! On Ensiklopedi Keris in 2004? Except 6 pages of Mr Suwarsono Lumintu writing, Bambang had been “building” this Ensiklopedi almost all alone: 600 pages with around 2.000 entries. For how long? Almost 20 years of his life. Though not a perfect work, but at least this ensiklopedi is still becoming one of keris reference. And the first book on keris with the format of simple Encyclopaedia, or kind of Keris Vocabulary… At least he had written five books on keris. One of them, is “Dapur Keris” (1981) by Pusat Keris Jakarta, reprinted three times and 3.000 copies each. Other books, “Pamor Keris” (1983), four times reprinted with total 12.000 copies. “Tanya Jawab Soal Keris” (Ask and Answer on Keris) also 1983, four times reprinted with 3.000 copies each print. And also, “Mengungkap Rahasia Isi Keris” (Revealing The Secret of Keris’ Spirit) by Pustaka Grafikatama 1986, three times reprinted too with each print of 3.000 copies. Beside Ensiklopedi Budaya Nasional (the first edition of the Ensiklopedi) which was copied by so many keris lover – because of only limited edition – Bambang also wrote small book such “Cara Praktis Merawat Keris” (Practical Guide to Maintain Kerises). So? His life is not a farce at all, for this keris world… Ganjawulung

27th October 2007, 10:36 AM	#2
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Less than a year before he passed away in 11th Desember 2003, Bambang gave me this book. (The title, “Orang Biasa” or Ordinary People). A draft of his otobiography (printed with computer, maybe only three copies). He asked me to read the draft, before it would be published for his own family. (He died before the book was ever published).… The story of his life is interesting. Especially about “six days in coma”, when he was unconscious between 9-15 September of 1996. (The first chapter in his draft book). He tried to reconstruct his memory, during the “dying days” of 1996. What did he see in coma? He felt like in a very long rock cave, very dark, lighted only by “bara api” , kind of ember or live coal… Not like dreaming, but he felt like real… Doctor said, he should had died in 1996. But yet, recovered again before died in Desember 2003. Ganjawulung Attached Images

30th October 2007, 09:57 AM	#5
ganjawulung Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: J a k a r t a Posts: 991	Keris Sertificate Dear Marco, John, and All, About one or two year before he died, Bambang Harsrinuksmo also had a "brilliant idea" of issuing certificate of keris. (This is one example of his certification, please look at this pics): http://www.heritageofjava.com/keris/sertifikat_01.html Maybe this is the only one "commercial side" in the life of Bambang. But Bambang -- in my opinion -- tried to be objective in certificating kerises. And like as if certificate of "graduation" in schools, it has "identity photo" of the keris itself... Unfortunately, this certification had stopped as he passed away in 2003. Ganjawulung

27th October 2007, 12:40 PM	#3
Marcokeris Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Italy Posts: 928	Thanks Ganja. I never met mr. Harsrinuksmo and now you give me the confirm he was an extraordinary person. Thanks a lot again

27th October 2007, 02:41 PM	#4
John Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Land below the wind Posts: 135	Thanks for sharing Ganja. I had the privilege of an email exchange with the Bambang shortly before his passing and I like the man, a gentleman.

30th October 2007, 03:31 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,125	Sorry, i see nothing "brilliant" about a keris certificate. Opinions on keris are so subjective at times. One "experts" opinion can sometimes vary greatly from another. I find the certificates issued to be fairly useless except as a selling ploy to the uneducated. No matter how "objective" you believe Bambang was in this process it was still only an opinion.