Abdurahman Wahid, Our Indonesian Imagination
Our Indonesian social reality is known to be plural and even multicultural. There are various ethnicities, tribes, languages, beliefs and religions in this archipelago. The various elements of the nation together give color and contribute to Indonesia’s progress.
Even so, we can never escape the shackles of postcolonial hierarchy, this is what is always a nightmare for the post-independence journey. It’s hard, our collective memory of the history of colonialism will never disappear. However, this is a form of the struggle of nations.
From here, the Indonesian spirit was born and we always care for it together. What exists is that various historical records have given rise to many ideas for the progress of the nation. Based on various kinds of literature about Indonesianness, Indonesia is one part of the future projection. Multicultural and diverse life is one of the challenges in penetrating the convergence of the times.
Moreover, the demographic bonus phenomenon is a very serious matter that needs to be prepared carefully. Increasing our productive age is not necessarily an advantage, it could even be a disaster for us. There are many things that need to be anticipated and it is also important to instill noble Indonesian values.
The reason is, understanding Indonesian values is also important to fill the treasures of local wisdom in our nation. One of them is that today’s young generation needs to be carefully prepared to take part in and explore the values of Indonesian treasures. As a matter of course, classrooms in schools should be part of a succession of character education.
Many figures projected Indonesian treasures in the future, one of which was Gus Dur. It is this national teacher figure who contributes thoughts about the intellectual treasures of Indonesianness. Why is it like that? Gus Dur has made many contributions to the concept of Indonesianness.
The narrative presented by Gus Dur describes the current condition of Indonesia and Indonesia in the context of the future. Maybe if we read more into the reviewsGreg Barton in his bookGus Dur’s Biography: The Authorized Biography of Abdurrahman Wahid describe the figure of Gus Dur in short words; complex and odd. It tends to be difficult to understand, and depends on what angle you look at and understand it.
Even though it is difficult for many people to understand, the figure of Gus Dur is part of the multicultural representation of Indonesian Islam. His treasure of thought always takes the middle path in looking at the problems of nations. One of Gus Dur’s struggles was to defend the rights of the oppressed, and this was a representation of maintaining the integrity of the Indonesian building so that it remained intact.
The term he used was “humanizing humans.” It seemed easy and ordinary, but it was the main factor in people respecting and loving Gus Dur. Humanity, which should be instinctive, is now special.
Gus Dur has a style of thought about Indonesians that is well known to many people. Synergy and consistency in fighting is one part of the process of forming the Indonesian imagination. Plural life and diverse cultures are part of the process of forming the Indonesian imagination.
Genealogy of the Indonesian Imagination
Still with the momentum of independence, everyone has the right to have a diverse Indonesian imagination. Starting from my reading of Tan Malaka who wrote from the land of refugees, entitledTo the Republic of Indonesia (Towards the Republic of Indonesia), in 1925, the phrase ‘Indonesia’ had not yet become a country.
Collectively “Indonesia” was also echoed at the first youth congress (1926) which Jong-Java attended. This is an ideal that has been formulated by the youth ranks. This continued until 1928 saw the Youth Pledge which resulted in the formulation “one nation, one language and one homeland” with great joy.
And since the proclamation the Indonesian body has actually found its political body. Talking about nationalism and Indonesianism are two things like currencies that always collide. So, the two have a strong relationship and are linked to independent homelands. Anderson refers to his research as an imagination of a national political community.
Everyone agrees and unites because of the impulse of imagination, united by the cause of having the same fate of oppression. This has always been Gus Dur’s focus in caring for Indonesian treasures. Meanwhile, our memory of the principle of equality of destiny is the basis and form of our national memoria today.
This kind of national memory is what we should continue to care for. Indonesianness should continue to be refreshed by injecting daily political actions that will accelerate the achievement of prosperity.
The Indonesian imagination without the will to fill it with positive action will only reduce the body to mere bones. In the author’s opinion, in the Indonesian imagination there are always cries of nationalism that always grow together. Like the figure of Gus Dur who has many ideas in fighting for humanitarian principles.
Gus Dur’s thoughts included the big idea of Indigenous Ization of Islam which became part of the Indonesian imagination. The big narrative of Gus Dur’s national spirit is a manifestation of his consistency in one axis called Indonesianness.
