The East Java Language Center (Balai Bahasa Provinsi Jawa Timur) held the 2026 Sutasoma Awards on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the M. Tabrani Building, East Java Language Center. Now in its 18th year, the Sutasoma Awards serve as a form of recognition for language and literature practitioners, communities, teachers, and other individuals and groups dedicated to the development, preservation, and advancement of language and literature.

This year’s event featured a panel discussion titled “Building a Literary Ecosystem in East Java,” followed by an awards ceremony recognizing achievements in seven categories: Literary Criticism, Literary Figures, Regional Language and Literature Teachers, Indonesian Language and Literature, Literary Communities, Regional Literary Works, and Indonesian Literary Works.

Among this year’s recipients was Romzul Falah, a master’s student in Literary Studies at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). He received the 2026 Sutasoma Award in the Indonesian Literary Works category for his poetry collection Balai Desa dan Hantu-Hantu Nippon (dan Balada Orang-orang Batuputih) (The Village Hall and the Nippon Ghosts [and Ballads of the People of Batuputih]). The Sutasoma Awards are a prestigious recognition in the literary and literacy landscape, particularly in East Java.

Following a rigorous judging process conducted by a five-member panel chaired by Prof. Dr. Djoko Saryono, M.Pd., a professor of Indonesian Language and Literature Education at the Faculty of Letters, Universitas Negeri Malang (UM), Falah’s collection emerged as a standout work. The collection had previously been named a “Manuscript That Caught the Jury’s Attention” in the 2023 Poetry Manuscript Competition organized by the Jakarta Arts Council. It has now drawn further recognition for its innovative contribution to the poetry scene in East Java.

According to the jury’s official report for the 2026 Sutasoma Awards, the collection occupies a distinctive position in the landscape of contemporary poetry, particularly in East Java. At a time when much of East Java’s recent poetry has been dominated by lyrical forms, Falah takes a different approach, using narrative poetry to reconstruct a community’s collective memory, myths, and oral traditions.

The jury identified the collection’s structural coherence, from beginning to end, as one of its greatest strengths. The poetic world it creates was praised for its consistency, with no jarring transitions from one poem to the next. The collection also traces a thematic movement that swings from the distant, elevated, and fantastical toward the ordinary and fundamental, before ultimately returning to the earth.

Reflecting on the award, Falah expressed both joy and an awareness of the new responsibility it brings to his writing.

“First of all, of course, I’m happy that my poetry collection, Balai Desa dan Hantu-Hantu Nippon, has received an award from the East Java Language Center. At the same time, though, it feels like a kind of moral burden, because for me, an award is another way of expressing responsibility—specifically, the responsibility to return to writing poetry,” said the poet, who was born in 2000.

Falah also expressed his gratitude to the many people who contributed to the making of the book. He refers to it as “our book,” acknowledging that its writing and publication involved the efforts of many people, particularly his colleagues at Anagram Publishing, including Doni Ahmadi and editor Willy Fahmy Agiska. He also thanked his friends at Malatè Artspace, an arts community in Sumenep Regency, who offered feedback throughout the poetry-writing process.

In particular, Falah thanked his grandmother, who introduced him to the myths of his hometown when he was a child. These stories brought him closer to the lives and experiences of earlier generations and later became one of the sources he drew on in crafting his poems. Stories about life in Batuputih also provided material for the collection.

The 2026 Sutasoma Award recognizes the literary achievement of Balai Desa dan Hantu-Hantu Nippon (dan Balada Orang-orang Batuputih) while highlighting how poetry can serve as a space for transforming collective memory, mythology, oral traditions, and community experiences into contemporary literary expression.

For Falah, an FCS UGM student whose debut poetry collection is titled Sebuah Kota Yang Menculik Kita (A City That Kidnaps Us), the award does not mark the end of his literary journey. Instead, it represents a renewed responsibility to keep writing and to contribute to the development of poetry within Indonesia’s broader literary ecosystem.

During the panel discussion, Dr. Puji Retno Hardiningtyas, head of the East Java Language Center, explained that the Sutasoma Awards are part of the institution’s broader mandate to develop and promote language and literature.

“The Language Center plays a role in language preservation and public outreach, particularly in efforts to develop language and literature. One way we carry out this responsibility is by recognizing communities and practitioners working in language and literature. The Sutasoma Awards are how we have put that commitment into practice for the 18th time,” Retno said.

Based on her observations and experience in the field, among the 30 technical implementation units (UPTs) of language centers across Indonesia, the East Java Language Center remains committed to recognizing language and literature practitioners, communities, teachers, and others dedicated to the development of language and literature.

She also emphasized the crucial role of East Java’s literary works in enriching Indonesia’s linguistic and literary heritage. Works written in Javanese, Madurese, the Osing dialect of Javanese, and Indonesian, she noted, help expand the Indonesian lexicon while introducing regional languages and Indonesian through the richness of local wisdom.

“I believe that the works you produce—whether in Javanese, Madurese, the Osing dialect of Javanese, or Indonesian—serve as important milestones in enriching our vocabulary and introducing regional languages and Indonesian through the local wisdom expressed in your writing,” said Retno, who previously worked as a researcher at the Bali Language Center.

Retno further noted that writers, literary figures, communities, teachers, and language and literature practitioners in East Java make contributions that are just as strategically important as those of literary figures and works at the national level. The works produced by Sutasoma Award recipients, she said, represent a significant contribution with a broad impact on the development of Indonesian literature.

“This also demonstrates that the writers, literary figures, communities, teachers, and language and literature practitioners in East Java are every bit as capable as their counterparts at the national level. The works you have produced—including those of the seven recipients being recognized through this year’s Sutasoma Awards—have a far-reaching impact and play an important role in the development of Indonesian literature,” Retno said.

Author: Selvia Parwati Putri

Undoukai 2026 was held as a sports competition for students of the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada (BKJ UGM). Promoting the spirit of camaraderie and sportsmanship, the event brought together representatives from each cohort in a series of competitions held on September 5–6, 2026.

Various sports and games enlivened Undoukai 2026, including badminton, gobak sodor, Mobile Legends, and e-Football. The competitions took place at several locations around Yogyakarta and within the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at UGM.

More than just an opportunity to showcase skills and compete for victory, Undoukai 2026 provided students with a chance to strengthen camaraderie, foster healthy competitiveness, and create memorable experiences across different cohorts.

Author: SAHLA NAURA NOOR SABRINA

“Well-being is not merely a matter of finances; it is a state in which everyone at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences can work and study in a healthy and safe environment, feel valued, have room to grow, and know they are not alone when facing challenges.” This was stated by Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, S.S., M.Hum., in her remarks during the Dean Handover Ceremony at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. As the Dean-elect for the 2026–2031 term, she also expressed her gratitude to the Dean serving the 2021–2025 term and the entire team for their excellent collaboration. It is hoped that the achievements realized over the past five years will serve as a solid foundation for the incoming dean’s team.

Her address at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium that afternoon was witnessed by members of the Faculty Senate, lecturers, administrative staff, the head of the Faculty Student Executive Board, heads of departmental student associations, and student representatives from semi-autonomous bodies. Prof. Dr. Bambang Hudayana, M.A., acting as the Senate Chair, opened the Dean Handover Ceremony.

Remarks were also delivered by the outgoing Dean of FIB UGM (2021–2026), Prof. Dr. Setiadi, S.Sos., M.Si. In his speech, he acknowledged the solidarity of the entire academic community, which has enabled FIB UGM to reach its current milestones. “We stand upon a strong foundation and strong leadership—qualities we must uphold for as long as this faculty exists,” Prof. Setiadi emphasized to the audience. He affirmed that under the leadership of Dr. Under Dr. Nur Saktiningrum, FIB UGM will continue to evolve into an academic environment that is increasingly inclusive, innovative, and globally competitive.

The solemn ceremony proceeded with the signing of the official handover minutes and the transfer of the office handover report from Prof. Setiadi to Dr. Nur Saktiningrum. The proceedings concluded with a prayer and the offering of congratulations by senate members, faculty, administrative staff, and student representatives in attendance. With this official handover, FIB UGM is poised to embark on a new chapter under the leadership of the 2026–2031 term, focusing on well-being, academic integration, and a safe environment for growth for all members of the faculty.

[Humas FIB, Maylafaizza Nafisha Zifa]

Yogyakarta, 11 September 2026 – The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, successfully hosted the 2026 International Conference on Linguistic Studies on 10–11 September 2026. Held at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium and six parallel-session rooms, the conference brought together scholars, researchers, students, and language practitioners under the theme “Form, Meaning, and Function of Language in the Era of Digital Transformation.”

The conference served as an international forum for exchanging ideas, fostering interdisciplinary perspectives, and advancing linguistic scholarship amid the rapid development of digital technologies.

The opening ceremony was officially inaugurated by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada on Thursday, 10 September 2026. The first plenary session featured distinguished speakers Jerome Samuel, Xu Yun Yu, and Prof. Dr. Suhandano, followed by two rounds of parallel sessions covering a wide range of topics in contemporary linguistic research.

On the second day, Friday, 11 September 2026, participants attended additional parallel sessions before joining the closing plenary session, which featured Zara Maxwell-Smith, Nguyen Tanh Tuan, and Prof. Dr. Faruk. Throughout the two-day event, participants engaged in lively discussions on theoretical and applied linguistics, language technology, sociolinguistics, discourse studies, and other emerging issues related to language in the digital era.

One of the conference’s most memorable moments was the valedictory address delivered by Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A., marking his retirement from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Following a commemorative video presentation, Professor Wijana reflected on his academic journey and contributions to linguistic scholarship, making the session a meaningful highlight of the conference before the official closing ceremony.

The organizing committee extends its sincere appreciation to all keynote speakers, presenters, moderators, participants, and supporting institutions for their valuable contributions to the success of the conference. The active participation of scholars from diverse institutions and countries demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing linguistic research through international collaboration.

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences also expresses its deepest gratitude and congratulations to Prof. Dr. I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A. on his retirement, honoring his remarkable dedication and invaluable contributions to the development of linguistics, higher education, and the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

May the spirit of scholarship, collaboration, and academic service fostered through this conference continue to inspire future research, innovation, and international partnerships in the field of linguistics.

Author: Magister Linguistik

Hamzah Fansuri’s legacy extends far beyond the poems preserved in the Malay literary tradition. Behind works such as Syair Perahu and Syair Ikan Tunggal lie enduring debates about humanity and God, as well as questions of power and cultural boundaries that continue to invite scholarly inquiry. These issues were revisited at the National Seminar “Hamzah Fansuri and the Poetic Tradition of the Nusantara,” organized by the Master’s Program in Literature at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in collaboration with the Government of Subulussalam City at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Held from 12:00 to 17:00 WIB, the seminar brought together three scholars as speakers: Prof. Dr. Faruk, S.U.; Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, M.Hum.; and Prof. Dr. Sangidu, M.Hum. The discussion was moderated by Rini Febriani.

The seminar provided an academic forum for examining Hamzah Fansuri, his works and Sufi thought, as well as their significance for the development of Malay literature and the intellectual history of the Nusantara. The collaboration also formed part of an effort to reintroduce Hamzah Fansuri as an important intellectual figure closely associated with Subulussalam.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Subulussalam described Hamzah Fansuri as a source of pride for the people of Subulussalam. He also highlighted the recognition Hamzah Fansuri had received and the enduring significance of his intellectual legacy.

He emphasized Hamzah Fansuri’s important place in the cultural history of the Nusantara. For this reason, he hoped that the collaboration between the Government of Subulussalam City and UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature would serve as a starting point for developing a range of cultural initiatives, including plans to hold a Hamzah Fansuri Festival in Subulussalam.

“This is the beginning of the Hamzah Fansuri Festival that we hope to hold in Subulussalam,” the Mayor said in his remarks.

Meanwhile, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM, in his opening remarks, stressed the importance of viewing the Malay language and literary tradition not merely as means of communication, but also as part of the intellectual heritage of the Nusantara.

He highlighted Hamzah Fansuri’s contribution to the development of the syair genre. His work, he noted, demonstrates how literature can serve as a space for articulating profound reflections on human existence, divinity, and the human journey.

One work discussed was Syair Perahu, which portrays the human journey through the metaphor of a boat. Literature, he suggested, offers more than linguistic beauty; it also provides intellectual depth and a means of reflecting on the complexities of life.

In the contemporary context, literature can also offer a moment to pause and reconsider the direction in which society is moving. The question of where Indonesia’s “boat” is heading is one such reflection that can be drawn from literature today.

Examining Hamzah Fansuri’s Works and Sufi Thought

The first speaker, Prof. Dr. Sangidu, presented a paper entitled “The Works of Hamzah Fansuri and His Sufi Thought.” He discussed several of Hamzah Fansuri’s prose and poetic works, as well as the development of the Sufi ideas underlying them.

Sangidu explained that Hamzah Fansuri’s thought was influenced by the Neo-Platonic tradition and the ideas of Ibn Arabi. Hamzah Fansuri left behind works in Malay, including a number of syair and rubā’i. Four rubā’i later provided with commentaries (syarah) by Syamsuddin as-Samatrani are Subchānal-Lāh Terlalu Kāmil, Allah Maujud Terlalu Bāqī, Sidang Fakir Empunya Kata, and Ikan Tunggal Bernama Fādhil.

One of the main works discussed was Syair Ikan, which is known by two names: Syair Ikan Tongkol and Syair Ikan Tunggal. Sangidu preferred the term Ikan Tunggal, following Doorenbos’s reading, because he considered the poem closely connected to the concept of wahdatul wujud.

In this interpretation, the fish represents the human being, or sālik, while the sea represents God. The relationship between the fish and the sea illustrates the relationship between humanity and God within the framework of wahdatul wujud. Human beings are likened to waves that emerge from water and ultimately return to water as their source. In this sense, the wave and the water are part of a single unity.

Sangidu also discussed the concepts of tajalli and Nur Muhammad. The universe is understood as a manifestation of God’s Essence and Being, while human beings, as microcosms, undertake a spiritual journey toward knowledge of and closeness to God. This process is associated with fanā’ fil-Lāh, tarkud-dunyā, and the attainment of ma’rifatullah.

The discussion then turned to Sidang Fakir Empunya Kata. In this work, self-knowledge becomes an important part of the journey toward knowing God. Sangidu explained that spiritual experience in Hamzah Fansuri’s work places the heart at the center of the process of coming to know God. The purification of the heart and the practice of ilmu hakikat are integral to this journey.

Sangidu also situated Hamzah Fansuri’s thought within the historical context of Aceh, referring to figures such as Syamsuddin as-Samatrani, Nuruddin ar-Raniri, Sultan Iskandar Muda, and Sultan Iskandar Tsani. Shifting interpretations of Sufism, he noted, were closely connected to changes in Aceh’s political and power structures.

Sufism, Marxism, and the Human Condition

The second speaker, Prof. Dr. Aprinus Salam, addressed the theme “Problems of Indonesia, Sufism’s Martabat Tujuh, and (Post-)Marxism.”

Aprinus began by examining the tendency to excuse wrongdoing and harmful acts as simply “human.” Expressions such as “people are only human” or “that is only human nature,” he argued, can become problematic when they are used to justify or normalize actions that cause harm.

He then connected this issue to the histories of colonialism, modernization, capitalism, and the development of social theory in Indonesia. From the seventeenth century onward, colonialism helped shape class and social-status structures as part of the governance of Nusantara society. By the early twentieth century, social theories, including Marxism, had begun to circulate and were being used to understand Indonesia’s social, economic, and political conditions.

According to Aprinus, secularization and modernization also contributed to placing Sufism in a more limited position within academic discourse. Marxism, meanwhile, became a source of concern for the ruling authorities and was banned during the New Order period because it was seen as potentially encouraging radical resistance to power. After 1998, capitalism and modernism continued to expand, while Marxism underwent a transformation toward post-Marxism.

It was at this point that Aprinus explored a possible meeting point between post-Marxism and Sufism. Post-Marxism is concerned, among other things, with the emergence of radical subjects, while the Martabat Tujuh tradition contains the concept of insan kamil, or the perfected human being. Although they belong to different intellectual frameworks, both can be approached through the question of human liberation from ideological, political, economic, and social constraints.

Aprinus also connected this discussion to the position of Sufi literature in the history of Indonesian literature. Sufi literature, he argued, has continued to develop, even though it has not always occupied a prominent position in discussions of Indonesian literature. Some works from the Balai Pustaka period already displayed Sufi dimensions, while in the post-independence period—particularly as state control became increasingly pronounced in the 1970s—Sufism became one of the spaces through which literature could sustain particular forms of expression.

In subsequent developments, poets such as Abdul Hadi, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, Zawawi Imron, and Cak Nun have been associated with Sufi tendencies in their works. For Aprinus, examining Sufi literature is part of a broader effort to reconsider the relationship between literature, humanity, and social life.

The discussion was further expanded through the idea of human beings as interconnected with nature and their environment. Aprinus suggested that traditional Indonesian communities, which understand humans as intimately connected with plants, animals, and material objects, might be viewed as embodying a form of “Nusantara posthumanism.”

Hamzah Fansuri and Sultan Iskandar Muda

The third speaker, Prof. Dr. Faruk, presented a paper entitled “Hamzah Fansuri and Sultan Iskandar Muda: A Homology.”

Faruk began by asking why Hamzah Fansuri’s works received different treatment during the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda and in the period that followed. His presentation compared the political circumstances under Sultan Iskandar Muda with those under Sultan Iskandar Tsani.

The reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda was presented as a period of Aceh’s prominence, characterized by a strong orientation toward global trade and political expansion. Under Sultan Iskandar Tsani, by contrast, the ruling authorities were more deeply preoccupied with internal affairs and struggles for power.

From this comparison, Faruk identified a homology between the orientation of Sultan Iskandar Muda and the tendencies within Hamzah Fansuri’s thought. Iskandar Muda sought to move beyond local boundaries through trade and political expansion, while Hamzah Fansuri’s Sufi thought likewise moved beyond geographical and cultural boundaries.

According to Faruk, Hamzah Fansuri’s Sufi thought situates human life within a more universal dimension. Sufism, in this reading, has an impulse toward crossing the border—moving beyond boundaries that divide people according to territory and culture. Hamzah Fansuri’s thought can therefore be considered in relation to cosmopolitanism and an openness to diversity.

Faruk also examined the relationship between Hamzah Fansuri’s Sufi ideas and the syair form through which they were expressed. The breadth of his Sufi thought, he suggested, sometimes seemed to exceed the capacity of the syair form to contain it fully. The tension between literary form and the expansiveness of thought thus offers an important subject for further study.

The national seminar demonstrated that discussions of Hamzah Fansuri extend beyond the history of Malay literature. They also intersect with Sufism, the political history of Aceh, social theory, cultural studies, and the development of intellectual thought in the Nusantara.

Through the collaboration between UGM’s Master’s Program in Literature and the Government of Subulussalam City, the seminar is expected to open broader avenues for scholarly research and cultural initiatives surrounding Hamzah Fansuri, while bringing academic inquiry into dialogue with efforts to reintroduce the intellectual and literary heritage of the Malay world to the wider public.

Author: Khotibul Umam