Wednesday, 18 April 2018. The day marked another event in the long-standing relationship between Arsari Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM); a public lecture delivered by Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Chairman of YAD, at The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada.
Under the theme ‘Pluralism and National Character Building’, Hashim emphasised the importance of pluralism and tolerance as part of Indonesia’s identity in order to tackle various problems ailing the nation. The long-time patron to the Faculty of Cultural Sciences also voiced his concern for the declining interest in Javanese Literature and promise to support those who wish to pursue and keep this cultural knowledge alive.
The lecture was opened by singing the national anthem followed by a foreword by the Dean of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum. It took place in Soegondo Building, where over three hundred students and lecturers from Cultural Sciences and other faculties were in attendance. There were even twenty heritage conservationists who drove all the way from Trowulan for the lecture.
After Hashim gave his presentation and answering questions from the floor, the event continued with a short speech from Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng as the Rector of UGM, and formally concluded with MoU signing by Hashim and the Rector, as witnessed by Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum as the Dean of Cultural Sciences and Catrini Pratihari Kubontubuh as the Executive Director of YAD.
Afterwards, Hashim went to visit Jacob T. Laboratory Building for Bioanthropology and Paleoanthropology, which he helped furbishing from 2008 to 2013. Previously, Hashim also paid a visit to RM Margono Building, the building he donated to UGM in 2009, which also hosts Mandala Majapahit, an information corner on Majapahit research established in three of YAD’s partners; Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Hasanuddin, and Jatisumber Village at Trowulan.
Widya Amasara