Ning Rangda

Some Indonesian provinces become widely famous for their traditionally woven clothes. One of those provinces is South Kalimantan. The two most famous weavings typically of South Kalimantan are Sasirangan and Pagatan weavings. Not only does the weaving become famous for its various colours and motifs, but also for its modern touch.

As the fact, that many local inhabitants of South Kalimantan are able to produce woven clothes. There is a story about a girl named Ning Rangda. She was a very famous weaver of that time. Many of her weavings were sold out only in three days. No matter what, the figure Ning Rangda was not as popular as her weavings. Many therefore wanted to know who the weaver of those beautiful weavings was. Here is the story!

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Long time ago in the hinterland of South Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, there was a woman named Ning Rangda. Her surname was Rangda, “Ning” was a local word for a woman who gets old and humpbacked.

Ning Rangda got humpbacked because most of her youth was spent for weaving. Since her youth, she had leaned traditional weaving from her parents. As the other local girls who were going to marry, her parents prepared Ning Rangda for some skills. Not only weaving skill she got from her parents, but also cooking and traditional healing.

Rangda was a keen weaver. She produced various weavings typically of South Kalimantan faster than the other weavers could do at that time. For such, many of her woven clothes were sold out at the nearest market.

Indeed, Rangda used to sell her weaving products at the nearest market. She got them sold by entrusting the goods to her maid.

Many were interested in Rangda`s weavings. Many wanted to have them for the beautiful colour mix as well as the intricate motifs.

As many were eager to have only Rangda`s weaving, many wanted to know who the weaver was. They wanted to investigate in the hinterland, just to know who made these sold-out weavings.

One day, a news revealed the identity of the producer of those sold-out weavings. Someone told the public that the weaver lived at a village in the hinterland.

Then, they went inside the forest to find Rangda. Many were curious that the weaver should have been as beautiful as the weavings at the market. Finally, they were right. They found Rangda was a beautiful girl. Many were amazed of Rangda`s beauty.

Since that time, information about Rangda spread widely. Those who lived in the hinterland and even those at the royal kingdom knew about the beauty of a village girl named Rangda.

Consequently, many came to Rangda. They asked for marriage to her. But, none was accepted by Rangda. And what a unique, they never got angry because their proposal for marriage was rejected.

On another part of South Kalimantan, a handsome prince was laying in sick. The king got really sad over this. Not only was because of the prince disease, but indeed, the prince still had no girl to marry with before he is crowned as the next king. Therefore, the king promised to marry the prince with the girl he loved, soon after the prince got well.

The king summoned for magical healers from the entire Borneo Island to cure the prince. Amongst the many healers coming to the palace, a magical healer came at the foremost.

The king got him to act. All the things had been prepared. The healer then recited some mantras. Soon after this, he made a drug. He had the prince takes the drug, but all efforts of the magical healer ended in failure.

The magical healer surrendered. He reported to the king and other royal officials in a hearing session.

“Pardon us, the Majesty! I have done everything, but all ended in failure. The disease was confusing. But, I`m often to see the prince mumbling in unconscious,” the magical healer said.

“Wait! He mumbles amidst his unconscious, doesn`t he? Tell me what he mumbled about!” the king was curious.

“I do believe that the prince is falling in love with a village girl. But, I have no idea who`s that one,”

“Why should be a village girl? Many beautiful girls had come to my son, just to get my son`s love, indeed!” the king seemed to disagree with the magical healer`s report.

“Pardon us, the Majesty,” said a royal official. “Many have come to the prince, but none was accepted, wasn`t it? The healer might be true, the Majesty.”

“I`m just a healer, the Majesty. The only thing I can do is healing through magical power. Pardon us for not being able to cure the prince, the Majesty,” the healer said.

“One last thing I ask from you, do you remember the name of that village girl?” the king questioned.

“He called a name, “Rangda.” Yes, that`s it! “Rangda,” the healer answered.

Knowing this, the king soon asked the royal officials whether they knew about Rangda. “Is there one of you who know Rangda?” the king asked the royal officials.

Then, one royal official appeared. “The Majesty, I would like to inform you that Rangda is a village girl. She lives in the hinterland of the kingdom`s territories. She, with her parents, settles behind the mountain. It`s not easy to reach the location, however.”

“Where do you know about her?” the king got more curious over the figure Rangda.

“For your information, the Majesty, the prince is now wearing Rangda`s weavings. I bought it a year ago, from Rangda directly. Almost all the beautifully attractive weavings at this palace were made by her, indeed,” the official tried to tell about the one who made the weavings.

“Do you have information about her parents?” the king quizzed.

“Well, he`s just a commoner now. He was a royal official, who got designated the war commander under the tenure of the former king. As he fell in love to a village girl, he left the palace, and now live in the hinterland,” the official continued telling about Rangda`s family.

The king was very sure that the only way to get his son well is by marrying him to Rangda. Thus, he ordered the royal officials to prepare all the things for marriage.

“Prepare all the things for proposing a marriage to Rangda`s family. Tomorrow I will be there along with my son,” the king ordered.

“But, I want you (one royal official who knew Rangda) to go there first. Tell them about my intention. Do not forget to have Rangda keep weaving until my son and I arrive,” the king added.

Soon, the royal official and the entourage arrived at Rangda`s village. He told the family about the king`s intention so that Rangda wanted to accept the prince`s marriage proposal.

Likewise, the royal aide did not forget to have Rangda weave for wedding dress that she and the prince would wear. Rangda alone was quite happy. This time, she wanted to accept a marriage proposal after a long time rejecting many proposals.

Rangda started weaving for wedding dress. She was keen on weaving; while singing happily.

The D-day came. The king and the prince were on the way reaching Rangda`s house. At first, the prince`s face looked happy and felt that he was getting better.

However, something bad happened in the middle of the forest. The prince got fainted, thus passed away after that. The king and the entourage could not continue the trip. They decided to go back home for burying the prince.

At the same time, Rangda and the royal aide were waiting for the arrival of the king and entourage. As the king`s order, Rangda would keep weaving until the king and the prince arrived.

Unfortunately, the prince and the king would never arrive at Rangda`s house. Rangda and the royal aide had no information that the prince had passed away.

Rangda kept weaving for wedding dresses; while the aide and entourage prepared all the things for the wedding party.

For that reason, Rangda`s back got humpbacked. She kept waiting for the prince by keeping herself in making woven wedding dress. Though the prince would never be there, Rangda tried to be faithful to the prince; thus she would wait until the prince came to her.

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Here is the story of Ning Rangda originally from South Kalimantan. The figure Rangda alone was never there in real. The story bears lesson for us so that we are encouraged to be a hard-working person like the figure Rangda.

The Malay people shoulder hard working highly. This is the key to measure one`s characteristics. Those who are keen in doing something will be paid with society`s appreciation and respect.

In the Tunjuk Ajar Melayu written by Tenas Effendy, the nature of hard working is mentioned in many parts of this book. Take for example are the pantuns below:

The above pantuns suggest us that we have to be hard working person at all times, until we get old, and until we die.

Another pantun from the book also tells us about the nature of hard working.

The above pantun gets us not be shame of being a hard working person. Indeed, we ought not to be shame of doing tough work at field. This all should be intended to seek for God`s bless.

Another pantun also suggests us to be a hard working person.

Well, this pantun tells us that many people would always need a hard working person. The existence of a hard working person would be respected at all times.

Samsuni (sas/35/10-2007)

Translated by Irfan Nugroho (ter/127/06-09)

Sources:

• Adapted from Djarani. 2004. “Ning Rangda”, in Batu Bini dan Batu Laki. Yogyakarta: AdiCita Karya Nusa Publisher.
• Effendy, Tenas. 2006. Tunjuk Ajar Melayu. Yogyakarta: the Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture in cooperation with AdiCita Karya Nusa Publisher.
• Sibarani., Eveline. 2007. “Busana: Extravaganza Tenun Pagatan,” in Tabloid Nova, available online on http://www.tabloidnova.com, retrieved on October 20^th, 2007.

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