Syauqi Sani: Asrul Sani Had His Own Authenticity, He Could Not Be Restrained

The Indonesian Language and Literature Education Department of FITK UIN Jakarta held a Guest Lecture and National Seminar called Pestarama #9. The event discussed national cultural institutions with an Islamic perspective, focusing on the profile and thoughts of Asrul Sani, a prominent Muslim cultural figure in Indonesia.

This event took place on Monday (27/5/24) at the Prof. Mahmud Yunus Theater, FITK. Various important figures were invited, and PBSI lecturers were involved in the discussions. These included Ngatawi Al Zastrouw, the Chairman of Lesbumi from 2004 to 2015, Jamal D. Rahman, a Muslim writer and PBSI lecturer, and Rosida Erowati, a PBSI lecturer, literature activist, and pioneer of the Pestarama event series.

To view Asrul Sani's profile from a family perspective, Syauqi Sani was also invited to the Guest Lecture and National Seminar to share his experiences living with his father, Asrul Sani.

He explained that his father could not be restrained, yet interestingly, he got along well with NU clerics.

"He talked more about NU clerics. Mr. Asrul could not be restrained, but he suited the NU clerics," explained Syauqi.

Asrul Sani was a literary figure who was also well-known in the Indonesian film industry. Along with Usmar Ismail, Djamaluddin Malik, and other figures, he established the Indonesian Muslim Artists and Cultural Workers Institute (Lesbumi) NU, which aimed to infuse religiosity into cultural institutions in Indonesia.

However, Syauqi Sani stated that Asrul Sani never labeled himself as an Islamic cultural figure. Still, his thoughts leaned in that direction.

Syauqi Sani also revealed that the creation of the "Surat Kepercayaan Gelanggang" (Arena's Declaration of Faith) was driven by Asrul Sani's anger towards the dominant Western culture.

The "Surat Kepercayaan Gelanggang" was an effort by Indonesian artists and writers to break free from the influence of previous generations and create their own identity and uniqueness.

Asrul Sani's authenticity was a significant theme in Syauqi's storytelling. Asrul Sani emphasized authenticity to build a new home, a new civilization called Indonesia.

Looking deeper, this is a challenge for the present day: to critically examine the ideas offered by previous generations while observing current phenomena.

(Selvia Parwati Putri/Faadhila Idris)