Paksi Raras Alit is known as the founder of the JAWACANA Community, a collective that consistently provides inclusive educational spaces to introduce Javanese culture to the broader public. An alumnus of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FIB UGM), Paksi initiated the community together with fellow UGM Javanese Literature alumni. One of its earliest activities was the opening of free weekly classes on writing Javanese script.
“As graduates of Javanese Literature, we gained knowledge and then began to think about how we could contribute it to society. One form of that contribution is through the classes held at JAWACANA,” he said on Tuesday (Dec. 23).
The JAWACANA Community was established in 2017 out of concern over young people’s declining familiarity with Javanese script, literature, and culture. Despite operating quietly, the community has continued to run independently and on a non-profit basis. It is open to anyone interested in learning Javanese script and literature.
Paksi explained that to ensure the community is genuinely supported by instructors with strong expertise in Javanese language, literature, and culture, all mentors are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in Javanese Literature from UGM.
Participants attending the classes come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from elementary school students to members of Generation Z who are closely connected to the digital world and popular culture.
“I feel happy and proud to see more young talents who are now skilled in playing gamelan, singing macapat, and even performing wayang,” he said.
According to him, the growing interest among Generation Z is an encouraging sign for those working to preserve Javanese culture. Seeing this enthusiasm, Paksi hopes that students, particularly those from the Javanese Literature program, will become more confident, as they actually possess strong potential for the future.
“For friends who are interested in Javanese literature and culture but are still unsure where to start, you can join JAWACANA. We open our doors to anyone interested in Javanese literature and culture,” Paksi said.
For his dedication to preserving Javanese literature and culture, Paksi received the UGM Outstanding Alumnus Award 2025 for his contributions to cultural literacy development and the preservation of traditional arts.
The award was presented at the UGM Outstanding Individual Award Night at Grha Sabha Pramana, Bulaksumur, on Tuesday evening (Dec. 9). A total of 71 individuals were honored in 2025, including six award categories for outstanding alumni.
Upon receiving the award, Paksi admitted that he was both surprised and proud to be recognized by his alma mater.
“I truly did not expect it, and as an alumnus, I am very proud that what we have done in the field of cultural preservation is appreciated by UGM,” he said.
Paksi shared that, since childhood, he has been deeply immersed in Javanese arts and culture within his family. After graduating from senior high school, he chose to pursue his undergraduate studies in Javanese Literature at FIB UGM in 2002.
Later, in 2021, he continued his studies at the master’s level in Literature at FIB UGM, maintaining the same focus on Javanese Literature. Through this community, he hopes that more young people will come to love and preserve Javanese arts and culture.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Salma
Photographs: Firsto Adi and Paksi Raras Alit