“While it may not be particularly extraordinary, it is, at the very least, a testament to our devotion to Nahdlatul Ulama.” These were the words of one of the contributors to the book ‘Bunga Rampai: Reflections on a Century of NU,’ not too long ago.
Indeed, this book, though unassuming, was born out of a profoundly special intention. A modest gift in honor of Nahdlatul Ulama’s Century a few months ago.
The existence of this book is inextricably linked to how santri perceive NU thus far. Borrowing the terminology of Arif A’abadia, who was one of the authors, seeing NU is not simply a matter of tracing a sequence of years with a cursory glance. It’s not solely about viewing NU as a socio-cultural organization detached from the role of religious scholars. Nor is it merely about perceiving NU as a mighty behemoth that isolates religious boarding schools within it. Above all, it’s not about reducing NU to only its santri while neglecting farmers, fishermen, laborers, and all other grassroots elements.
Certainly not. To truly see NU means daring to comprehend the complexity of its entity as well as its interwoven and interconnected roles. Therefore, in an endeavor to realize this, the santri of PP Al-Anwar 3 Sarang, Rembang, Central Java, have embarked on an effort to offer contemplation, scrutiny, or what can be termed as reflections on NU as it enters its second century.
This book, presented before you, offers a unique appearance. It comprises reflections on a variety of themes, piece by piece, recorded grievances, humor, and even critical assessments of NU itself. Through this 271-page volume, around 60 innocent santri-authored writings have been collected.
Presented in three forms/models of writing: essays, short stories, and poetry, with illustrations serving as dividers for each writing style, and concluding with crossword puzzles related to Nahdlatul Ulama, it brings a fresh perspective to the book.
Through these writings, the authors aim to present their thoughts, grievances, humor, and, not to forget, the earnest hope of santri for self-critique and dialectical discourse on the socio-religious dynamics that have unfolded thus far. All of this is intimately linked to Nahdlatul Ulama itself.
NU Through the Lens of Santri
Mahfud Sulqi, one of the contributors to this book, attempts to view NU from various angles and conditions through his essay titled ‘Reflection: The NU I See.’ In his view, as NU surpasses a century of existence, it has permeated every aspect of human life. He further classifies NU into seven models: NU in the Village, NU in the City, NU in Pesantren, NU in Higher Education, NU in Social Media, NU in Practical Politics, and NU in World Peace. (Page 41)
Through these models, the existence and development of NU become vividly apparent. Although it is not without its shortcomings and areas for improvement, diligent efforts will guide NU toward a brighter and more promising future. One aspect he mentions is NU’s role in higher education. He believes that NU’s contribution to managing universities hasn’t been as successful as its work in Pesantren.
“Significantly different from Pesantren, which have been effectively shaped by NU’s teachings. In the field of higher education, it appears that NU has yet to showcase its true potential. LPTNU (the Nahdlatul Ulama Higher Education Institute) must work diligently in designing and structuring a university system that can produce outstanding intellectuals and academics,” writes Mahfud Sulqi.
In another intriguing essay titled ‘Reflection on a Century and the Progressive Vision of Nahdlatul Ulama under the Leadership of KH Yahya Cholil Staquf,’ Imam Syafi’i invites readers to reflect on the history behind the birth of Nahdlatul Ulama. He highlights that NU, established on the 16th of Rajab, 1344 H, was a strategic move by religious leaders in response to the Dutch colonial rule, which oppressed and discriminated against Muslims in Indonesia.
Furthermore, Imam Syafi’i delves into the advancement of world civilization through the development of knowledge and technological advancements that began in Europe in the 14th to 16th centuries, known as the Renaissance. He then narrows it down to KH Yahya Cholil Staquf’s progressive vision, which revives the spirit of Gus Dur in guiding Nahdlatul Ulama forward.
Imam Syafi’i asserts that KH Yahya Cholil Staquf’s progressive vision is evident in the successful and ongoing events known as ‘Religion of Twenty (R20)’ and ‘Fikih Peradaban.’ These breakthroughs under the leadership of KH Yahya Cholil Staquf demonstrate NU’s commitment to addressing contemporary global issues. (Page 140)
“Religion of Twenty, initiated by Gus Yahya as a representation of NU, is held to encourage young religious individuals to contribute to solving various global problems. The occurrence of this event signifies how religion can play a role in addressing global issues. Since the 14th century, religion has often been sidelined because it seemed authoritarian and was considered responsible for setbacks in technology, modern science, and knowledge,” writes Imam Syafi’i.
Apart from these two essays, there are many other fascinating essays, not to mention the creative works in the form of short stories and poetry. Each offers its unique perspective from the lens of santri.
The birth of this book is undoubtedly a concrete manifestation of the fact that santri are an inseparable part of Nahdlatul Ulama. Therefore, based on this, santri continue to take a keen interest in the direction and development of Nahdlatul Ulama as it ventures into its second century.
About the Book:
- Title: ‘Bunga Rampai: Reflections on a Century of NU’.
- Authors: Santri of PP Al-Anwar 3.
- Publisher: Atap Pustaka.
- Year of Publication: Second Edition, April 2023.
- Page Count: xxi + 271 Pages