Pak Besut. Sekali Merdeka Tetap Merdeka

Pak Besut was the stage name of Pancratius Suradi Wardoyo, a famous Javanese comedian and radio broadcaster. 

He was born on January 15, 1910 in Celep, Sragen, Central Java, and died on April 29, 1984.. 

He was known for his humorous and philosophical stories, which he performed on Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Yogyakarta from 1945 to 1981. His show, called “Obrolan Pak Besut” (Pak Besut’s Chat), was very popular among the Javanese people, as he used his jokes to criticize the social and political issues of his time, as well as to inspire and educate his listeners. 

Pàk Besut always ended his show with the phrase “sekali merdeka tetap merdeka” (once free, always free). 

He was also a journalist, a teacher, and a politician. He was a member of the regional council of Yogyakarta in 1971. He was a Catholic and a nationalist, who supported the Indonesian independence movement.

Pak Besut used the Javanese language, which is rich in expressions, proverbs, and idioms, to convey his humor and wisdom. 

He portrayed the Javanese values of modesty, politeness, harmony, and respect, as well as the Javanese worldview of nrimo (acceptance), ngelmu (knowledge), and ngudi luhur (noble deeds). He depicted the Javanese society, especially the rural and urban poor, with their struggles, joys, and hopes, as well as their customs, traditions, and beliefs. 

Pàk Besut criticized the Javanese elites, such as the aristocrats, the bureaucrats, and the religious leaders, who often exploited, oppressed, or deceived the common people. 

He celebrated the Javanese heroes, such as the Mataram kings, the Diponegoro rebels, and the Surabaya fighters, who resisted the colonial powers and defended the Javanese dignity and sovereignty.

Pak Besut was considered one of the greatest comedians of Indonesia, and a cultural icon of the Javanese people.

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