Santri

In Indonesia, ''santri'' is a term for someone who follows Islamic religious education in ''pesantren'' (Islamic boarding schools). Santri usually stay in the place until their education is complete. After completing their study period, some of them will serve the ''pesantren'' by becoming administrators. According to C.C. Berg, the term "santri" comes from Sanskrit ''shastri'' which means "one who learns Hindu scriptures"; it has the same root as the word ''shastra'' (literature).

Starting in 2015, October 22 is designated as the National Santri Day (''Hari Santri Nasional'') in Indonesia. The date refers to "jihad resolution" issued by Hasyim Asy'ari of Nahdlatul Ulama to ulama and santri prior to the national revolution.

Geertz research

In a study by American sociologist Clifford Geertz, the santri are people, particularly in Java, who practice a more orthodox version of Islam, in contrast to the more syncretic ''abangan''.

Geertz identified three main cultural streams (''aliran'' in Indonesian) in Javanese society; namely, the ''santri'', ''abangan'', and ''priyayi''. Members of the ''Santri'' class are more likely to be urban dwellers, and tend to be oriented to the mosque, the Qur'an, and perhaps to Islamic canon law (Sharia). In contrast, the ''abangan'' tend to be from village backgrounds and absorb both Hindu and Muslim elements, forming a culture of animist and folk traditions, it is also claimed that this particular class originated from Sindhi sailors, who had settled in Java. The ''santri'' are sometimes referred to as ''Putihan'' (the white ones) as distinct from the 'red' ''abangan''. The ''priyayi'' stream are the traditional bureaucratic elite and were strongly driven by hierarchical Hindu-Javanese tradition. Initially court officials in pre-colonial kingdoms, the stream moved into the colonial civil service, and then on to administrators of the modern Indonesian republic.

The ''santri'' played a key role in Indonesian nationalist movements, and formed the strongest opposition to President Suharto's New Order army-based administration. In contrast, the ''priyayi'' have tended to follow the prevailing political wind; they supported Sukarno's overt nationalism, while during Suharto's subsequent presidency, they loyally voted for his Golkar party. Poorer ''abangan'' areas became strongholds of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in stark opposition to the orthodox Muslim ''santri''. The cultural divisions descended into bloody conflict in 1965/66 when ''santri'' were opposed to communists, many of whom were from ''abangan'' streams. An estimated 500,000 alleged communists were killed during the transition to the New Order, and bitter political and social rivalries remain.

See also

*Islam in Southeast Asia
* Kota santri

Notes

References

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Islam in Indonesia
Indonesian words and phrases

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