GAYA HIDUP ELITE MINANGKABAU DI AFDEELING AGAM (1837-1942)

Abstract

Elite Minangkabau di Afdeeling Agam mengalami perubahan, baik meliputi status, kekuasaan, maupun sumber penghasilan. Hal tersebut terjadi bersamaan dengan  ditetapkannya kebijakan politik Pemerintahan Hindia Belanda di Sumatera Barat (1837-1942). Untuk menjabarkan persoalan tersebut diperlukan kajian historis menggunakan metode sejarah, terdiri atas heuristik, kritik, interpretasi, dan historiografi. Selain itu, untuk menghasikan karya yang bersifat analitis, dilakukan pendekatan  ilmu antropologi dan sosiologi politik. Berdasarkan penelitian yang dilakukan, gaya hidup elite Minangkabau di Afdeeling Agam pada 1837-1942 tidak mengalami perubahan seutuhnya, melainkan terjadi akulturasi budaya asli Minangkabau dengan budaya Barat. Umumnya, gaya hidup elite tradisional Minangkabau yang menduduki jabatan kolonial mencerminkan statusnya sebagai pegawai pemerintah dan pemimpin sukunya masing-masing, sedangkan gaya hidup elite intelektual lebih banyak menyerap budaya Barat. Meskipun demikian, baik elite tradisional maupun elite intelektual  tetap menunjukkan cirinya sebagai orang Minangkabau, dapat diperhatikan dari agama dan tradisi adat yang tetap dilakukan hingga saat ini.

Minangkabau Elite in Afdeeling Agam has been changed, including status, power, and income sources. It coincided with the enactment of the Dutch East Indies government policy in West Sumatra (1837-1942). To describe these issues, it needs historical study by using the historical method; it consists of heuristics, criticism, interpretation, and historiography. In addition, to generate the analytical work, the writer does anthropology and political sociology approach. Based on the research, Minangkabau elite lifestyle in Afdeeling Agam in 1837-1942 did not change completely, but there were an acculturation between native Minangkabau and Western culture. Generally, the traditional Minangkabau elite lifestyle which has colonial positions reflected its status as government officials and leaders of their own people. Meanwhile, the intellectual elite lifestyle absorbed Western culture. Nonetheless, both the traditional elite and intellectual elite continued to show the character as the Minangkabau, it can be considered from the religious and customary traditions which are still being done until today.