WE need to learn more about politics from the tragedy of Tumapel.

This region in East Java left behind a 13th century tale—perhaps fictional, perhaps semi-fictional—that has been passed on by word of mouth and through various ways. The story concerns the exploits of Ken Arok, a peasant turned ruler. It is often the subject of traditional Ketoprak performances, it has been adapted into a stage play (by Muhammad Yamin in 1951), an