Questions such as “Nek kuliah neng Sastra Jawa ’ki arep dadi dukun ’pa?” (If you study Javanese Literature, do you want to become a traditional healer?) may still be encountered as a common perception of the field of Javanese language, literature, and culture. In reality, opportunities for students to develop themselves in these fields can take many forms, including performing arts, event hosting, and cultural activities.

This was among the things reflected in the implementation of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2026. A number of students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program were involved in the series of activities in various roles. Their involvement extended beyond academic activities, encompassing participation in student activity units as well as experience in the arts and event hosting.

One of the groups involved was Gamelan Sastra Nusantara (Gamasutra), a student activity unit under the Student Association of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program (HMJ Kamastawa). Gamasutra performed gamelan music during the morning activities while welcoming the new students, or Mahadaya, of the 2026 cohort. The group also accompanied the opening series of events through the inauguration of Pionir Kampung Budaya 2026.

In addition to Gamasutra, Ratnaraya, a student organization dedicated to traditional dance, also took part in the event. Students from Ratnaraya performed Tari Golek Ayun-Ayun Jugag, a traditional dance from Yogyakarta that portrays a young woman entering adulthood and searching for her identity. The involvement of both student organizations highlights the activities of students in the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program in the fields of art and culture.

Student involvement was also evident in event hosting. Two students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program, Ghibran Arsha Daffa’ Musaffa’ and Ananda Choirul Nur Alalia, served as master of ceremonies (MCs) during Pionir Kampung Budaya 2026. Ghibran is a member of the 2024 cohort, while Ananda is from the 2025 cohort. Both have previous experience as event hosts on various occasions.

The event also involved alumni of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program. Nurma Aisyah, S.S., an alumna of the study program who currently works as an event host and journalist at Tribunnews, participated as one of the speakers. Her involvement represents another example of how graduates of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program have pursued professional careers related to communication and media.

These various roles demonstrate that students from the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program can contribute to campus activities through a wide range of fields. Knowledge of language, literature, and culture can go hand in hand with the development of other skills, such as performing arts, public communication, leadership, and event hosting.

Participation in activities such as Pionir Kampung Budaya 2026 can also provide students with opportunities to gain experience beyond the classroom. Such experiences can become part of their learning process while helping them develop skills needed in both academic life and the professional world.

In this regard, Mahadaya are encouraged to continue learning and developing themselves through both academic studies and various activities on and off campus. These experiences can serve as valuable foundations for developing their knowledge, skills, and abilities in accordance with their areas of interest.

Author : Haryo Untoro

Editor : Haryo Untoro

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

Yogyakarta, 02 August 2026 – Four days ahead of INCULS regular program odd semester academic year 26/27 starts, students from 12 countries gathered in one of FIB’s auditorium, S.709. Attending the official opening ceremony of INCULS regular program which was held at Gedung Soegondo, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya (FIB), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

The opening ceremony doubles as the International Student Orientation (ISO) that marks the beginning of our Bahasa Indonesia untuk Penutur Asing (BIPA) friends at exploring the Indonesian Language and its rich culture. For the next five months, Yogyakarta will be their home, and INCULS will be their friend for the time being. At INCULS, not only do the students learn Indonesian language, but also will be learning the culture of Indonesia.With many chances to experience the culture such as, interacting with the Jogja locals, study tours, and many more fun activities outside the class.

In this ceremony, essential information regarding studies and the little things like how people in Jogja are, among other things, were socialized to BIPA students of INCULS. Small things like how the food and drinks are; the locals; the norms in Indonesia; and many more. So the students were given crucial information about the place they will live in for the semester that will be of definite help in the long run. As well as giving them insights about the culture in Indonesia, especially Jogja.

INCULS hopes the Regular Program will continue to become a place for our BIPA friends to bloom and to become a bridge connecting Indonesia and other parts of the world.Through this program, not just the language, but also the culture will become a great asset for them in the future. Good luck, best wishes on your studies everyone. 

Penulis: Dydo Athaya Rafif (INCULS) 

On September 3, 2026, Prof. Tania Li from the National University of Singapore shared her insights on the writing process during a public lecture hosted by the Department of Anthropology, UGM, titled “Figuring Out Master Narrative in Writing Project” at the Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) UGM. The 120-minute session invited participants to reflect on their writing methods while evaluating common obstacles that arise during the writing process. The session opened with an interactive exercise where participants were asked to share their ongoing writing projects with the person sitting next to them. Any confusion experienced during this exercise served as an early indicator that the intended narrative had not yet been clearly formulated.

Prof. Tania explained that a successful writing project is always built upon a clear master narrative or key message, though discovering this message is often a challenge in itself. A strong narrative typically holds a puzzle at its core, captivating readers with the promise of uncovering something unexpected or unresolved. In this context, theory plays a vital role in identifying this puzzle and connecting the work to broader literature without losing focus on the specific research context. Furthermore, effective storytelling brings arguments to life and keeps readers engaged. Ultimately, understanding and visualizing the target audience is a key final step in crafting a coherent and compelling narrative.

Author: Daiva Keefe Kalimasadha