Author: Almas Bimantara
On the occassion of the 93rd anniversary of the Sumpah Pemuda (Youth Pledge), commemorated on Thursday, 28 October 2021, Universitas Indonesia (UI) held an online public discussion on Zoom, broadcast live through UI Teve, one of UI’s official Youtube Channel. The discussion saw talks and presentations from the talented and public figures among the youth. Among the figures invited to hold talks during the event were Kusuma Ida Anjani, Business Development and Innovation Director at Mustika Ratu, and Alissa Qotrunnada Munawaroh Wahid, Founder and Director of Gusdurian Network Indonesia.
At the beginning of the session, Kusuma stated that the spirit of unity and nationalism are to be passed on to the youth, considering that more than 50% of Indonesia’s population consists of the youth. For the youth, bearers of the nation’s destiny, a great responsibility lies ahead — that of being committed to the Four Pillars of the Nation: Pancasila — the nation’s ideology and guiding principle, Bhinekka Tunggal Ika — Indonesia’s national device (which translates to Unity in Diversity), NKRI (i.e. national unity), and UUD 1945 (the constitution). “There has been many things that the younger generation can do to put these values in practice. An instance evident to all of us is the demand for local products.” This, Kusuma felt, is an appropriate manifestation of nationalist sentiments, one which, at the same time, bolsters Indonesia’s industries.
The youth have displayed their active contribution in various facets of life — business, politics, economy, society, and culture, Kusuma stated. “This is concrete proof that holding fast to the Four Pillars of the Nation and unity encourages the success of our nation.”
As an Indonesia youth herself, Kusuma has contributed towards the nation in the form of innovations that benefit the people. Mustika Ratu, a Top Innovation Choice Award 2020 winning franchise, launched several products wholly composed of herbs obtained from Indonesia. Kusuma’s contribution towards the nation is not limited thereto. She served as Chief of Organization and Development during Puteri Indonesia 2022, a “culture-based Indonesian fashion show”. The criteria by which Puteri Indonesia was chosen was not limited to Beauty; it involved Brain and Behaviour as well.
Kusuma’s talk was followed by a session delivered by Alissa Qotrunnada Munawaroh Wahid, founder of Gusdurian Network Indonesia (GNI), an NGO engaged in democracy, multiculturalism, and social justice. Alissa opened her session by explaining why she founded the GNI. The founding of the network was prompted by the loss of her faith in social justice and the political situation in Indonesia during the presidential tenure of her father, Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid. Following the latter’s departure, many people, especially minorities, came to her, asking who will defend them should they come under oppression. Thus Alissa, along with her sisters and mother, founded the Gusdurian Network, which has been advocating for marginalised minorities and issues of social justice in indonesian society since its founding.
Alissa stated that democracy and plurality in Indonesia remains …, due to the fact that social harmony between differing groups is still very well maintained. However, trends show that deterioration is to be seen when one compares the state of democracy and plurality in Indonesia 30 years ago with their current state. This, however, does not pose too much of a problem for Indonesia, according to Alissa, although this is something the GNI is trying to counteract.
The aforementioned trend notwithstanding, Alissa sees in Indonesian youth awareness of values that are universal and fundamental in nature. “Even though there are many juveniles in Indonesia who engage in bullying, others earnestly repudiate the act,” Alissa explained. Meanwhile, a rather concerning fact has emerged: the youth has become less rooted in ‘Indonesian’ values. This is what brings forth one of the biggest challenges the nation has to face: to bring forth progressive-minded youth who, at the same time, retain within Indonesian values.
At the end of her session, Alissa advised the youth to possess a mindset aiming to be useful to one’s surroundings, instead of a self-serving attitude. The progress of Indonesian youth depends of getting out of the “living for oneself” trap, she asserted. “This world needs the youth, Indonesia in particular needs the youth.“
