Question

Give a brief description about the wood-cutter community of java-the kalangas

Answer 1

Kalangs lived in Java. It was a community of skilled woodcutters and shifting cultivators. They were so valuable that in 1755 when the Mataram Kingdom of Java split, they were equally divided between the two kingdoms. Without their expertise it would have been difficult to harvest and cut down teak.

Answer 2

Kalangs were the specialised wood cutters of Java, they were 600 kalanf families in Java. They were such important that when Kingdom of Mataram was splitted kalangs were divided among them equally each having 300. One could understand their importance of kalangsfor the king by the above example. It would have been difficult to built ships and palaces for the king if they wouldn't be their and they were expertise in harvesting teak. They were also eco friendly they also took care of the land and also resisted working with Dutch when they had captured Java by small rebellions.Hope my answer helps you.