UNS — Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held a ‘Tirakatan & Doa Bersama’ (a night to reflect on the past and collective prayer) online on Monday (16/8/2021). The event was attended by all UNS academic members, including faculty members, academic staff, students, alumni, and Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP). Besides the Zoom Cloud Meeting application, the event was also live-streamed on the UNS YouTube channel.
In the Tirakat Night and Collective Prayers to commemorate Indonesia’s 76th Anniversary, Prof. Warto invited all UNS academic members to reflect the independence of Indonesia. From before and after the proclamation. The Dean of Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB) stated that the Indonesian struggle does not stop at the proclamation, but today, the nation is still struggling. Prof. Warto also explained that the fights didn’t belong to only the heroes.
“If we listen to ‘Caping Gunung’ song, it reflects the time when the heroes fought the colonialists (and) keeping the independence was also supported by the poor people,” Prof. Warto stated.
The collaboration among all walks of life in fighting and keeping the independence is a historical experience that proved Indonesia’s strength that extends to this day—proven by Indonesia’s success in facing numerous crises in political and economic fields in 1929, the 1960s, 1997, and 2008. History also recorded that Indonesia’s strength has unified the diversity through nationalism, thus, achieving Indonesia nationalism.
“Our nationalism is an imagined community. Indonesian nationalism is unified by media revolution, the printing machine technology,” Prof. Warto explained.
The Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, who attended the event, also said that Indonesia has grown into a solid and resilient nation. Even the spirit to struggle fostered long before the independence of the Republic of Indonesia (Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia – NKRI) remained to this day, especially in facing the Covid-19 pandemic. The struggle to battle the Covid-19 pandemic is implemented by applying the health protocols and solidarity of the community.
In line with the ‘Indonesia Tangguh, Indonesia Tumbuh’ (Strong Indonesia, Growing Indonesia) slogan used on the 76th Indonesian Independence Day, Prof. Jamal stated that Indonesian people need to welcome the future even though they are still fighting the pandemic. That’s why Prof. Jamal invited the academic members to participate as the driver of changes in the new normal.
“I invited UNS academic members who have an intellectual capacity to work together with the community creating changes using our innovation and creative power,” Prof. Jamal stated. Humas UNS
Reporter: Alinda Hardiantoro
Editor: Dwi Hastuti