Decolonization is an important issue that continues to be studied in the social sciences these days. The effort to break away from Western hegemony, which is a legacy of colonialism, is a long road that is being traveled, especially for Global North thinkers. This effort was also evident in a forum entitled Who Can Speak and What We Can Speak About held at AAS, Gadjah Mada University, July 11, 2024.

In this forum, there were 6 speakers who presented their research results. The common threads of the presentations were about the fate of others, the struggle for human rights, and efforts to uncover the Global North-Global South power relations.

The first speaker was Lili Chen from the National University of East Timor. In her presentation, she explained the dynamics of life for LGBT people in Timor Leste. After independence from Indonesia, LGBT people in Timor Leste are quite progressive. Compared to Indonesia, this group is also much more accepted. This can be seen from the Pride Parade that they can participate in in Dili every year. However, this does not mean that their lives are completely safe. In a country with a highly religious Christian population, LGBT people are still discriminated against. However, there are efforts made by LGBT people to negotiate this. For example, they try to continue to explore pre-colonial local culture, which actually also recognizes the concept of gender outside heteronormativity.

Still related to gender issues, Carol Rodriguez Bello Dawonlay from the University of Philippines, discussed various indigenous women’s groups in the Philippines against child marriage and gender violence. Meanwhile, Anna Christi Suwardi from Mae Fah Luang University, also discussed the role of women in efforts to resolve conflicts in Southern Thailand.

Faryal Khan from the Bonn International Center for Conflict Studies (BICC) discussed the military conflict in South Waziristan, Pakistan. According to Khan, the conflict involving the state and various tribes became prolonged, because the state took a military approach to resolve it.

Faryal Khan’s presentation was also linked to that of Amjad Hassan from the National University of Modern Language Peshawar. Hassan, who is also from Pakistan, criticized the state’s approach to resolving various violent conflicts in Pakistan. According to Hassan, Pakistani policymakers, think tanks and intellectuals still take a Western approach, especially the realist, positivistic and capitalist modernity approach. This is highly ineffective as Pakistan will always fail to address the root cause of all modern conflicts, which is actually the West itself. According to Hassan, the West, especially America, is the elephant in the room that has failed to be identified. Therefore, it is important to map the extent of their interests behind these violent conflicts.

Meanwhile, Gopale Amarnath discussed the problem of health facilities in the Gadchiroli region of Maharashtra, India, which is an area of conflict between the government and left-wing extremists. According to Amarnath, the presence of these extremist groups has made the region discriminated in terms of health policy. Amarnath expressed concern about the poor health facilities and lack of doctors in the area. In addition, the lack of child care facilities, maternal delivery, and proper buildings, also complicates the problem. Moreover, the military also often enters hospitals or health centers to conduct inspections, which makes health workers worried.

In general, the forum also discussed research methods based on the spirit of decolonization. There are at least three points that researchers who go into the field should do. First, they should listen more. Second, research must be based on consent, or the agreement of both parties. Third, do no harm, or do not hurt the physical and emotional well-being of the group being visited.  This forum is very important because it shows how field research methods can explore problems in depth, but also based on empathy for affected communities. This is also a form of decolonization, especially of anthropological research methods that used to objectify the indigenous population. Decolonization is not only a result, but also a process.

Author: Ari Bagus Panuntun

On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a graduate program graduation for period III of the 2023/2024 academic year with a different feel. The event that took place at Grha Sabha Pramana was opened with a cucuk lampah procession by students of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program who are members of Ratnaraya, the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program Student Dance unit.

The students who performed in the cucuk lampah procession included Dhiny, Nanda, Audrey, and Ganes. The procession was followed by the rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D., chairman of Kagama Pusat, Ganjar Pranowo, and the deans of Universitas Gadjah Mada’s master program. They were accompanied by gending Sesanti Gadjah Mada, a composition created by Djoko Walujo.

In an interview conducted on July 26, 2024, Audrey, one of the students who participated in the procession, expressed her experience. “Usually we perform traditional dances in an event, but this time we did the cucuk lampah tradition, accompanying the Rector, Mr. Ganjar, and the postgraduate deans. This is a very memorable new experience for us,” she explained.

Reported in desatepus.gunungkidulkab.go.id (2023, September 07), the cucuk lampah tradition is a traditional Javanese wedding tradition in the form of a procession, accompanying the bride and groom to the aisle. The position of the cucuk lampah dancers is in front, followed by pager ayu and pager bagus, the bride and groom, and the bridal family. The purpose of cucuk lampah for Javanese people is as a repellent that can interfere with marriage. However, in this postgraduate graduation ceremony, the tradition is adjusted so that it is relevant to the atmosphere and purpose of the event.

The preservation of Indonesian traditions and culture has deep aesthetic, teaching, and philosophical values. Activities such as these demonstrate effective efforts in preserving and passing on the nation’s identity with adjustments to the relevance of the times. Cooperation from various parties is needed to encourage cultural preservation and inheritance. By presenting cucuk lampah in the graduation ceremony, thus, the presence of cucuk lampah in the graduate program graduation ceremony is in accordance with the 4th point of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), namely improving the quality of education, and the 17th point, namely partnerships to achieve goals.

Author: Haryo Untoro

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Desatepus.gunungkidulkab.go.id (2023, September 07), Cucuk Lampah dalam Pernikahan Jawa: Simbolisme dan Tradisi yang Mengesankan. Diakses pada 29 Juli 2024, dari https://desatepus.gunungkidulkab.go.id/first/artikel/2708-Cucuk-Lampah-dalam-Pernikahan-Jawa–Simbolisme-dan-Tradisi-yang-Mengesankan#:~:text=Cucuk%20Lampah%20adalah%20salah%20satu,keindahan%20dan%20makna%20dalam%20pernikahan.

On Saturday (15/6/2024), students of English Literature Study Program batch 2023 held a theater performance and exhibition with the theme “Ru(me)nation” which was held at Soegondo Building 7th floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM. The theater performance entitled Carol ad Caroline and the exhibition entitled 1001: One Frame, A Thousand Pictures is a part of their final project that must be fulfilled in the Language and Literature Production course. The event was organized by all students of English Literature UGM class of 2023 and attended by lecturers, students, parents of students of English Literature UGM, and also by the public.

This event aims to improve students’ ability to work in the use of English, increase students’ appreciation of art and literature, and develop students’ talents, potential, and soft skills. The benefits of this activity are no other than equipping students with non-technical skills in terms of organizing and running events, improving their ability to use English in oral and written form in academic and non-academic environments, and enriching students’ knowledge in their artwork appreciation and self-confidence through artwork production.

The event was opened with much enthusiasm by the host, followed by a warm welcome by the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, M.Hum. and Alvanita, S.S., M.Ed. as the lecturer of the course. In the welcome speech, Mrs. Alvanita mentioned that the students have been practicing for months in order to present this theater performance to the whole audience. 

The theme of the theater performance was a topic related to mental health and self-acceptance, which is no longer out of place, especially among fellow students. This performance is expected to open a broader perspective to the audience, the committee, and the actors on the issue of mental health. This performance is also a picture and a reminder to be fully accepting of ourselves and loving it by being gentle to our own selves and hearts. 

The event ended with a standing ovation as the audience stood up in appreciation of the spectacular performance. After this point, all the committee and performers danced together with lively music while the host read out the names of the committee and performers involved. Not to forget, all 2023 students of the UGM English Literature Study Program expressed their gratitude for the enthusiasm and participation of the audience in the success of the event.

On Saturday, July 20, 2024, a lecturer from the Master’s Program in Middle Eastern Cultural Studies attended the National Seminar and Central Management Working Meeting of IMLA’ Indonesia held at Pondok Modern Tazakka Batang. The event was attended by the Chair of the Board of Trustees of IMLA’ Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Tulus Mustofa, and the Chair of PP IMLA’ Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Uril Bahruddin, along with several participants from various institutions in Indonesia. The theme of the event was “Utilizing AI in Arabic Studies and Learning.” The event was opened by the Head of Pondok Modern Tazakka, KH. Anang Rikza Masyhadi, M.A. Ph.D, with a discussion on the Haram Ma’hady concept, which encourages the use of Arabic in the pesantren environment.

The second speech was delivered by Prof. Dr. Tulus Mustofa, who emphasized the importance of cooperation and unity within IMLA’ Indonesia, where all parties, including pesantren leaders, university leaders, experts, and Arabic language practitioners, gather to advance Arabic language education in Indonesia. The final speech was given by the Chair of PP IMLA Indonesia, Prof. Dr. Uril Bahruddin. He summarized various activities that have been carried out since the election of the Chair of PP IMLA Indonesia in 2023 in Mataram until the celebration of International Arabic Language Day 2023. In 2024, IMLA Indonesia successfully maintained the accreditation of the Arabi Journal at the second national rank. Additionally, IMLA’ Indonesia has established collaborations with several universities and institutions abroad through MoU activities. The MoU to be signed at this event is between IMLA Indonesia and the Alsun Foundation for Arabic Studies and Teaching.

Jakarta, May 27, 2024 – The Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM sent six students to participate in the Translation Competition organized by the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia. The six students were Aisyah Dian Safitri, Amarapallevi, Vanesa Olivia, Melisa Azzahra Tania, Nisa Khairuna Sabilla, and Pingkan Widiana Retno Utami.

The event began with an opening ceremony. Following the opening, the competition sessions commenced. The competition was divided into two sessions. The first session involved translating from Indonesian to Korean. After this session, there was a break. The second session then began, which involved translating from Korean to Indonesian. The event concluded with a closing ceremony.

The winners were announced a few weeks after the competition took place. Students from the Korean Language and Culture Program won honorable mentions in this competition. The two students were Vanesa Olivia and Amarapallevi.

This competition provided a platform for students to showcase their potential, specifically their translation skills from Indonesian to Korean and vice versa. This ability is one of the key competencies that the Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM aims for each of its students to possess. Of course, this achievement was made possible by the students’ courage and willingness, as well as the guidance provided by all the program’s lecturers.

Photo 1.1: Competition Participants