Galanggang Arang: A Concrete Step to Preserve the Heritage of Ombilin Coal Mine

Padang - From 1868 to 1883, under extreme natural challenges amidst the hills, there was a human struggle that paved the way for the coal mining industry in West Sumatra. On Thursday, October 19, 2023, history recorded again as Galanggang Arang was officially opened at the Hajj Dormitory and Fabriek Bloc, Tabing, Padang. 

The Galanggang Arang event was held as a joint commitment activation to preserve the Ombilin Coal Mine Heritage (WTBOS) which has been recognized by UNESCO as a heritage that influences world civilization. WTBOS was designated as a world cultural heritage on July 6, 2019, in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee meeting.

The designation of this world cultural heritage certainly brings the consequence of real work in preserving all properties that form a strong identity of the WTBOS area, namely the coal mining and its supporting infrastructure in Sawahlunto, the railway transportation system for coal transport, and the Silo Gunung coal storage in Padang.  

“Our task now is to preserve and maintain WTBOS so that it remains intact, and to optimize this heritage as a capital for strengthening the cultural ecosystem and the welfare of the surrounding community,” emphasized Hilmar Farid from the Directorate General of Culture, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemdikbud Ristek RI).

WTBOS: A Window to the Past

Sawahlunto is one of the areas located in the hills. With a rather complicated route and difficult to reach by ordinary transportation, the success of building this coal mine and railway line is indeed an extraordinary achievement. 

High technology related to the operationalization of the mine is supported by the success in creating the railway line. Moreover, the area from Kayu Tanam to Padang Panjang is a climbing route with an extreme slope of up to 80 degrees, and technology has successfully overcome this challenge. 

“The series of activations will also provide space for the involvement of children, students, and the younger generation. Because this world heritage is not only the property of the past and present but also for the younger generation in the future,” explained Hilmar Farid.

According to him, WTBOS is not just a world heritage site; it is a window that takes us back to the past, reminding us of the struggles of those who worked underground, and the important role of coal mines in Indonesia's history. In the steps towards preserving this heritage, Galanggang Arang combines elements of cultural heritage dialogue, an opening ceremony, and performances of traditional and modern arts.

Galanggang Arang itself is derived from the word “Galanggang” which means space, field, or crowd, while the word “Arang” is the local term for coal. Thus, Galanggang Arang signifies a movement to revive the spirit of uncovering the historical and cultural stories about the coal buried in Sawahlunto. This potential embodies universal values including cultural development, intercultural value exchange, as well as the dissemination and formation of new cultures as a form of human enhancement.

The Coordinator of the Galanggang Arang Curators, Edy Utama, stated that this event is also a way for the nation to witness the transformation of knowledge in the 20th century. Because according to his records, before the 19th century, not many Minangkabau people went to school. But in the early 20th century, after the railway operated and the Dutch built many schools, the Minang community received a complete education thanks to the existence of the railway. Soon after, many intellectuals and national figures from Tanah Minang emerged, such as Bung Hatta, Mohammad Yamin, Sutan Sjahrir, and many more. 

"This is an extraordinary achievement, where the railway serves as a point of change and renewal, thus becoming a development in world civilization," he said.

Then, when talking about coal, he stated that the coal spills from the railway could drive the wheels of the people's economy, where they utilize coal to boil bananas and other agricultural products. 

"This not only sustains the people's economy but also gives birth to great leaders who influence the civilization of the nation and the world," he emphasized.

Another curator of Galanggang Arang, who is also a lecturer in Literature and Culture at Andalas University, Sudarmoko, shared his thoughts on the importance of preserving cultural heritage. "Cultural heritage is the identity of a nation. We must take care of it so that our stories do not disappear into the wind."

According to him, the coal from the Ombilin-Sawahlunto mine is not only a source of energy and economic development for Indonesia and the world but also brings cultural advancement, especially in the areas along the railway line and its stopping stations.   

This man, born in Yogyakarta, believes that the activation of WTBOS is the right momentum to create a collective memory of the Minangkabau people regarding the existence of the railway along this world heritage area.

“The ultimate goal of Galanggang Arang is to build a comprehensive ecosystem for the activation of WTBOS to be utilized as a source of knowledge, technology, and artistic and cultural expression, for the realization of cultural resilience and community welfare,” concluded Sudarmoko. 

Reinforcing the statements of Edy and Sudarmoko, the Head of the Cultural Office of Tanah Datar, West Sumatra, Ariswandi, highlighted the importance of promoting WTBOS to the wider community. "Strengthening the promotion of WTBOS to the public is an important step. With a better understanding of this heritage, the community can feel more involved in preserving it."

Ariswandi also appreciated and thanked the central government, especially Kemdikbud Ristek RI, for their efforts in safeguarding and preserving WTBOS through this Galanggang Arang. We hope this event continues and creates strong synergy among various parties in preserving cultural heritage.

For him, the Ombilin Coal Mine is the heart of the economy, social, culture, and even lifestyle, of the surrounding areas such as the City of Solok, Solok Regency, Tanah Datar Regency, Padang Panjang City, Padang Pariaman Regency, and Padang City. 

The Journey Towards Heritage Preservation

After the opening in Padang, Galanggang Arang will explore various other historical places in West Sumatra. This event will include exhibitions, workshops, and activities involving the local community. This is an effort to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this heritage and encourage active participation in preserving it.

The series of events will continue with activations at Silo Gunung, Padang (October 20, 2023), then at Padang Panjang Railway Station (November 7-8, 2023), featuring a photo gallery of WTBOS, traditional culinary bazaars & MSMEs, and artistic performances. 

Not stopping there, from November 10-12, 2023, the Galanggang Arang activities will be held at Kayu Tanam Railway Station, showcasing Batajau Layang-Layang, performances of traditional arts from Anak Nagari, WTBOS exhibition in the Station Waiting Room, and much more. This will continue at Pitalah-Bunga Tanjung Station, Solok City Station, Sawahlunto Station, Ombilin Simawang Railway Bridge, Kacang Station, and the Children's Festival, as the peak event held at the Governor's House Yard.

Each local government in the seven regencies and cities in West Sumatra supports the activation activities and strengthening of the WTBOS cultural ecosystem, which is expected to become a grand design for management in the future.

The journey towards the preservation of WTBOS, recognized by UNESCO, is a testament to the collective spirit and pride as the Indonesian nation. Galanggang Arang is a step in an inspiring journey that teaches the important values of preserving history for future generations, as well as helping to keep this story alive in our memories, now and forever.