Struggle For Power in Old Java

Book Title : Arok Dedes (Arok of Java).

Author : Pramoedya Ananta Toer

Pramoedya Ananta Toer liked to use historical background to write his stories. This one is not an exception. In this book Pramoedya wrote about a struggle for power in east Java in the 11^th century.

The story took place in a small regency of Tumapel, north of the present day city of Malang. It is a fertile and prosperous district. At the time Tumapel was under the rule of Tunggul Ametung, an ambitious and cruel despot. He ruled Tumapel absolutely but he was under the King of Kediri.

Pramoedya opened the first chapter of his book by describing absolute power of Tunggul Ametung. One day on a journey through villages he saw a beautiful girl. Dedes was the daughter of Empu Parwa, a Hindu priest. She was a well educated girl. Since she was a kid she had learned many books on Hinduism. She did not find difficulty in reading, understanding and speaking Sankrit, an old Indian language used in ancient books on Hinduism. When Tunggul Ametung saw her, he fell in love with her on the first sight. But Dedes did not. So he forced her to go to his palace. He did not even tell Dedes’ father. When Empu Parwa, Dedes’ father knew this he was very disappointed and then left his house. In his palace Tunggul Ametung held a wedding party. The disappointed frightened Dedes did not talk to him for several weeks.

Another description of his absolute power is about his army. The army of Tumapel was actually a band of robber. They patrolled the city of Tumapel and villages around the city not to protect their citizen from outside threat but to rob them. They asked for money or other valuables. In short Tunggul Ametung was a despotic ruler who became a burden to his own people. He did not serve his people, he exploited them instead. He even had a secret goldmine in a village. That’s why his people hated him but they were afraid of him.

This condition in which there was no prosperity and justice created unrest among the people. Consequently insurgency appeared in villages surrounding the city. Crime rate was rising rapidly.

Meanwhile in the villages in the southern part of Tumapel there was a young man whose power grew stronger and stronger everyday. His name was Arok. His background was dark. He was born as a son of poor family. His original name was Temu, the son of a poor farmer. When he was a teenager he became a robber. In a wood he robbed coaches that travel in the road between Tumapel and Kediri. One day the army of Tumapel chased him. He was almost arrested but a farmer protected him. Since that day he became the step son of Bango Samparan, the farmer who protected him. He knew that Arok was a smart boy so he sent him to study to a Hindu priest, whose name is Tantripala. Upon graduating from Tantripala’s school Arok continued his study to Lohgawe, a famous Hindu priest at the time. Arok was the best student there.

Lohgawe did not satisfy with the socio-political situation in Tumapel. He concluded that the people of Tumapel were oppressed by Tunggul Ametung. So he wanted to change the situation. He plan to overthrow Tunggul Ametung and he set a plan. He relied on Arok to do his plan.

The insurgency was getting more serious to Tunggul Ametung. He found difficulty to eliminate them so he asked Lohgawe to give him suggestions. Then Lohgawe suggested Tunggul Ametung to recruit Arok to his army. At first Tunggul Ametung was suspicious. He did not trust Arok. But Dedes assured him. So Arok and his band became a commander of a reserve army. His duty was to eliminate insurgency and to guard the capital. It was not a difficult task for him because the insurgents were his group.

When Arok had an opportunity to guard the palace, he met Dedes. Soon a secret love grew between them. Arok wanted her.

Tunggul Ametung did not trust report that Arok managed to control the insurgency. He was more suspicious to Arok but it was hard to find evidence.

Meanwhile Arok had a golden opportunity to strengthen his army and his political position. He found out that there were other powers in the capital. Belakangka was an important figure in Tumapel because he was a representative of the King of Kediri. Besides him, there was Empu Gandring, who had a weapon factory. He produced thousands of spears and swords. He had influence over Kebo Ijo, an important army commander.

So Arok set a trap for them. He made a secret plan with Dedes. Dedes then gave poison to Tunggul Ametung. He did not die instantly but he was in poor condition. Then Dedes told Kebo Ijo to take power from Tunggul Ametung. The night when Kebo Ijo attacked Tunggul Ametung, Arok had ready. His army was inside of the palace and also outside it. Soon his army sieged the palace and they found Kebo Ijo who had just killed Tunggul Ametung. He was arrested and then killed. Arok became the new ruler of Tumapel. Then he married Dedes.

This story is based on the real event in Javanese history. But Pramoedya used it to describe his political thought. He described Tunggul Ametung as a despotic military ruler and Arok as a hero who liberate people from oppression. Perhaps he used this story to describe contemporary Indonesian politics.

This book is really interesting especially for those who like politics.