Prompting Action to Save ‘Cerita Panji’

East Java is the proud birthplace of Cerita Panji, a collection of classical stories from the Kadhiri to the Majapahit kingdoms. However, in terms of preserving Cerita Panji, East Java lags behind other places in Southeast Asia. This has prompted 60-year-old cultural activist Eko Henri Nurcahyo to take the initiative in "provoking" local administrations, universities and cultural activists to explore the wealth of Cerita Panji and to popularize them.

KOMPAS/AMBROSIUS HARTO

Eko Henri Nurcahyo, a lecturer of Panji Studies at PGRI Adi Buana University .

Cerita Panji is the epic tale of Raden Inu Kertapati (Panji Asmarabangun) and Dewi Sekartaji (Galuh Candra Kirana). For hundreds of years, the story was told, developed and spread along intercontinental trade routes through oral tradition. Not surprisingly, Cerita Panji is thus well known throughout Southeast Asia.