The competition that the Tourism & BSO Sastra Oebah Team participated in on May 15-17, 2024 was called the Indonesian Tourism Competition. The competition was held at Bandung State Polytechnic. For the competition itself, as the title suggests, it is related to tourism. However, there are several general branches of competition, one of which is creative dance. The participants were spread throughout Indonesia, although not all of them participated. At that time, the team of students from the Faculty of Humanities, Gadjah Mada University won 3rd place out of 12 participants. Creative Dance Competition is a talent test that focuses on the creativity of contemporary dance movements including harmonization between wiraga, wirasa, wirama, weitra, accompanied by traditional music and modern Indonesian music. With the theme “Revive The Culture of The Land a Thousand Islands”, this competition aims to create a creative dance where participants can perform extinct traditional Indonesian dance performances with modern vibes.

Sastra Oebah is a semi-autonomous body of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, which is engaged in dance (traditional classical and contemporary creations). In 2023, Sastra Oebah was formed to become the new identity and face of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. The beginning of the naming of Sastra Oebah itself is because it is in the Faculty of Letters (Faculty of Cultural Sciences) and Oebah means “moving” which is then elaborated as a symbol that BSO Sastra Oebah is a BSO engaged in dance. The establishment of Sastra Oebah was seen by several students who have potential in the field of dance. In this case, Sastra Oebah is able to realize several implied questions related to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, which is identical to the variety of cultures in it, but does not have an institution/community engaged in this field (traditional classical dance and contemporary creations in particular). The mission of Sastra Oebah itself was formed by not being closed, which means that it is only open to students of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences. However, Sastra Oebah opens as many opportunities as possible for non-faculty students if they have an interest in joining Sastra Oebah. interested in joining as part of Sastra Oebah.

Jakarta, June 8, 2024 – The Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM sent five of its students to participate in the final round of the 22nd K-Speech Oratory Contest Indonesia, organized by the Indonesia Korea Speech Eloquence Association and held at the National University (UNAS). The five students were Ida Ayu Nastiti, Anggita Lintang Herdiwan, Nasywa Athallah Putri, Firmansyah Haryo Yudhoyono, and Naufal Java Fakhriansyah.

The event began with a performance by UNAS students and was followed by Big Group Oratory Speeches from each university, including UGM, which successfully submitted its Big Group Oratory Speech via video. The event continued with the introduction of the judges and remarks from relevant parties. After these segments, 27 individual category participants performed in the order determined by the organizers, followed by performances from 7 team category participants. While awaiting the judges’ evaluations, the event included a door prize distribution session and an overall evaluation of the participants’ performances. The event concluded with the awarding ceremony and a group photo session.

Students from the Korean Language and Culture Program achieved several awards in this competition. Anggita Lintang Herdiwan won First Place in the individual category, while Nasywa Athallah Putri, Firmansyah Haryo Yudhoyono, and Naufal Java Fakhriansyah won Third Place in the team category.

This competition provides a platform for students to showcase their potential, particularly their ability to speak Korean in public. This skill is one of the potentials that the Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM aims for each of its students to develop. Certainly, this achievement is due to the students’ courage and the support provided by all the program’s lecturers.

The Association of Middle Eastern Cultural Studies Students at UGM (IMABTA UGM) and the Indonesian Student Association for the Middle East and Africa (PPIDK Timtengka) collaborated in organizing the event “Middle Eastern Issues Discussion” with the theme “Identity and Exile in Contemporary Arabic Literature”. This event was held on Thursday, June 7, 2024, in a hybrid format. The Middle Eastern Issues Discussion featured Middle Eastern Cultural Analyst and Gadjah Mada University Lecturer Dr. Hindun, M.Hum., Head of the Intercultural Department Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum., and Secretary of the Intercultural Department UGM Dr. Mahmudah, M.Hum. Participants in this event included students from Indonesia as well as countries in the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, and South Africa.

Dr. Hindun explained that literature is shaped by the mindset of the society around it. One example is the literature written by Mahmoud Darwish. Darwish wrote about the condition of Palestine when it was occupied by Israel. In addition, this Arabic Literature Lecturer provided another example from Khalil Gibran’s work titled “Al-Ajnihah Al-Mutakassirah”. In it, Gibran narrates the events he experienced in his homeland with a distinctive language style, allowing readers to feel what he experienced. From these examples, it is evident that literature can showcase the identity and exile of the author. Literature can serve as a medium or window to view various social issues occurring in the Middle East.

The Japanese Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has once again demonstrated outstanding achievement on the national stage through their participation in the Humanities Studies Competition: Badai Bungaku Taikai 2024. This competition, organized by the Japanese Literature Study Program at Universitas Brawijaya, was held online with participants from various universities across Indonesia.

In this competition, students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program, Zahra Athira Mumtazah and Oita Yolafina, achieved impressive accomplishments. Zahra Athira Mumtazah won 1st place in the Kamishibai contest, a traditional Japanese storytelling art that combines story and illustration. Zahra’s stunning performance earned her the top position in this category.

Meanwhile, Oita Yolafina secured 2nd place in the Shodou contest, the Japanese art of calligraphy that requires high skill and beauty in writing kanji characters. Oita’s expertise in creating beautiful calligraphy works received high praise from the judges.

The competition was conducted online using platforms such as YouTube and Google Form to submit entries. With this victory, it is hoped that it will inspire and motivate all students to continue developing their potential.

Writer: Yulia Agustiani
Editor: Valentina Pramahita Iswari

Yogyakarta, June 6, 2024 – The Soegondo Auditorium on the 7th floor of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) witnessed a solemn and emotional valedictory ceremony for Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, M.A., M.Phil. After nearly 40 years of dedicated service at UGM, the esteemed Professor of Anthropology officially concluded his tenure as an active lecturer. The event, held from 08:45 AM to 10:40 AM, was attended by colleagues, students, and the general public who wished to honor Prof. Heddy’s academic journey.

Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra is a highly respected figure in academic circles, particularly in Anthropology. Born in Yogyakarta on May 28, 1954, he pursued his education in Anthropology at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Undergraduate, 1973-1976), Universitas Indonesia (Bachelor, 1978-1980; M.A., 1983), Rijksuniversiteit Leiden in the Netherlands (Postgraduate, 1980-1982), and Columbia University in the United States (M.A., 1986; M.Phil., 1989; Ph.D., 1993). Additionally, he received higher education in English at IKIP Sanata Dharma Yogyakarta and Dutch at Universitas Indonesia. His dedication to research and teaching made him a significant figure in the development of Anthropology in Indonesia. He has been an extraordinary lecturer at various universities in Indonesia and a guest lecturer at Dagon University, Myanmar. Furthermore, Prof. Heddy has served as the Head of the Anthropology Study Program and the Chair of the Senate at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM. His research covers various socio-cultural issues in Indonesia and several other countries, resulting in important works such as “Lévi-Strauss Structuralism, Myth and Literature” and “Patron and Client in South Sulawesi: A Functional-Structural Study.”

The event began with welcoming remarks from Prof. Dr. Setiadi, M.Si. (Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM) and Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono, M.A. (Head of the Department of Anthropology at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM). Prof. Setiadi expressed appreciation and recalled Prof. Heddy’s career, highlighting his contributions in various fields and his role in producing outstanding scholars across many regions. “Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra is not just a teacher, but truly a luminary, like a lighthouse for our academic community,” he remarked. Subsequently, the Head of the Department of Anthropology, Prof. Dr. Pujo Semedi Hargo Yuwono, M.A., conveyed deep appreciation for Prof. Heddy’s dedication. He emphasized that Prof. Heddy has brought many innovations and introduced various new perspectives in the study of Anthropology in Indonesia.

The event continued with the screening of a short documentary depicting Prof. Heddy’s life and struggles in the field of Anthropology. This video, presented by his students, featured significant moments in his career and interesting stories from his life, narrated by Prof. Heddy himself. Additionally, the event was enlivened by traditional dance (Srimpi Dhempe Dance) and musical performances by students and faculty members as a form of appreciation and respect.

Prof. Heddy’s colleagues from his time at Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, Netherlands, joined the celebration by sharing stories and singing together. They were Laksono, Sylvi, Yani, and Ratna, who recounted moments from their youth during their studies. After sharing their stories, they sang together in Dutch, accompanied by Prof. Heddy on the guitar. This moment added warmth and camaraderie to the event, reminding everyone of their close-knit bond and cherished memories.

The highlight of the event was the valedictory speech by Prof. Heddy titled “Building Bulaksumur Anthropology – From ‘Life-History’ to ‘Paradigm’.” In his speech, Prof. Heddy recounted his long and dynamic journey in Anthropology, from his undergraduate studies at UGM, his bachelor’s studies at Universitas Indonesia, postgraduate studies at Rijksuniversiteit Leiden, to his postgraduate and doctoral studies at Columbia University. His speech illustrated the immense dedication and effort he has invested in developing Anthropology in Indonesia.

The event concluded with the cutting of the tumpeng and the presentation of a memento from the Department of Anthropology to Prof. Heddy as a symbol of appreciation for his service. Afterward, the guests were invited to enjoy a meal together in the courtyard of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), with various food and drink stalls provided by those who wished to contribute to the celebration. The warmth of this event reflected the deep respect and gratitude of the academic community towards Prof. Heddy.

Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa-Putra, M.A., M.Phil., of UGM is a distinguished professor who has made significant contributions to the development of Anthropology. His spirit and dedication will continue to be remembered and serve as an inspiration for future generations. Thank you, Prof. Heddy, for all the knowledge and service you have provided. May your retirement bring happiness and well-being.

Writer: Afif Naufal Widiadi