A Decade of Pestarama: The Treasure of Islamic Literature at the Heart of UIN Jakarta

Auditorium Harun Nasution, UIN News Online – Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta once again affirmed its strategic role in preserving the nation’s literary and cultural heritage. Through the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Program (PBSI) of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Jakarta held the 10th edition of Pestarama on Wednesday (May 14, 2025)—an annual event that serves as both a platform of artistic expression and an academic laboratory for literary and theatrical appreciation.

Carrying the theme “Literature, Islam, and Silent Resistance”, this year’s Pestarama spotlighted Mohammad Diponegoro, a literary figure who has long been overlooked in public discourse. One of its main segments was a National Seminar and Tribute dedicated to the late writer, held at the Student Center Hall of UIN Jakarta.

The event featured four prominent figures: culturalist and Muhammadiyah writer Kiai Cepu (Dr. Kusen, S.Ag., M.Ag., Ph.D.), Chair of Jakarta Arts Council Theater Committee Bambang Prihadi, founder of LilKalaam Rahmat Hidayatullah Mahwi Air Tawar, and PBSI lecturer Rosida Erowati, M.Hum., who served as the moderator.

Pestarama #10 Production Head Rian Dwiyanto, in his remarks, stated that the success of this event was the result of strong collaboration between students, lecturers, and various campus elements who consistently promote arts appreciation rooted in academic and spiritual values.

Head of the PBSI Program Dr. Ahmad Bahtiar, M.Hum., emphasized that through Pestarama, UIN Jakarta not only celebrates literary works but also fosters an inclusive intellectual ecosystem.

“Pestarama is not only a space for art appreciation but also a medium for cross-level academic practice. We hope to expand its reach to the Banten region and Greater Jakarta,” he said.

Full support was expressed by FITK’s Vice Dean III, Salamah Agung, M.A., Ph.D., who regarded Pestarama as concrete proof that a university is not merely a place of learning but also a hub of student ideas and creativity.

Meanwhile, UIN Jakarta’s Vice Rector III, Prof. Ali Munhanif, M.A., Ph.D., stressed the importance of academic institutions contributing to students’ literary enthusiasm in sustaining cultural continuity.

“UIN Jakarta has a strategic role in nurturing the heartbeat of Indonesian Islamic literature. Through Pestarama, we aim to show that Islamic universities are not limited to normative discourse but also engage with aesthetics, social critique, and the humanities,” he said.

For a decade, Pestarama has stood as a testament to UIN Jakarta’s commitment to becoming an intellectual hub for Islamic knowledge that integrates science, art, and culture. Amid the changes of time, UIN Jakarta continues to strengthen its identity as a university that is not only religious but also humanistic and progressive.

With deeply rooted dedication, Pestarama #10 is not merely a celebration of the arts, but a reflection of the role Islamic higher education institutions play in shaping the nation’s character through literature and culture.

(Muhammad Hanif A./Fauziah M./Noeni Indah S.)