One of the figures who is also a poet named Raden Ngabehi Ronggowarsito, whose literary works are well known to this day, was born or became a student at the Gebang Tinatar Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes) in Tegalsari Village, Jetis Ponorogo District.
The poet from Surakarta is said to have written one of his literary works in a surau on stage in front of Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari’s prim house. The surau became Ronggowarsito’s favorite place when he was studying at Tegalsari.
The surau still exists today. Located in the area of Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari’s ndalem house which is still standing, beautiful and has never been restored, which is located in front of the Tegalsari Jami Mosque.
The Gebang Tinatar Islamic Boarding School in Tegalsari Village was founded by Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari around 1675-1680s. Kiai Ageng Muhammad Besari was the son of Kiai Anom Besari, Caruban, Madiun.
Where if the genealogy is traced, they are still descended from the Majapahit Kingdom. From historical references, it is said that the Gebang Tinatar Islamic Boarding School was the forerunner of the first Islamic education in Java. Apart from giving birth to the famous poet Ronggowarsito, the Gebang Tinatar Islamic Boarding School also gave birth to many well-known scholars. This Islamic boarding school was also the first to establish a pesantren in various regions in Indonesia. adv/ptr
