Fajarasia.co – Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, met with young kiai from Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) throughout East Java. These young kiai, commonly called Gus, are the sons of the owners of large Islamic boarding schools in East Java.
The meeting entitled Ta’aruf Mbak Puan with the Gus (Gawagis) took place informally in Surabaya, Wednesday (15/6/2022) night. The gathering was also filled with warm conversations full of typical NU jokes.
Puan also said the meeting was a family tradition passed down from their parents. As is known, the First President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno, who was Puan’s grandfather, had a close relationship with the NU family during his lifetime. Likewise with his mother, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has good relations with the ulama.
“This is a good forum to sew the relationship between our grandfathers. And now we are the third generation to continue it,” said Puan.
The first woman who served as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives requested that this kind of gathering be held regularly. Puan wants to be like her grandfather and mother who are always close to the kiai.
“In the past, Bung Karno and the kiai always worked hand in hand. Bu Mega and Gus Dur are like brothers and sisters, they are always close to each other everywhere. Why can’t we be like that now?” he said.
According to Puan, the meeting with the Gus can be a stepping stone to establish regular friendships within the framework of the Indonesian extended family. Moreover, many meetings are filled with discussing the future of the Indonesian nation.
“The gathering is based on the intention to build Indonesia in the future. Our job is to protect Indonesia, which is diverse,” said Puan.
The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture also gave his commitment to the Gus who care for the pesantren in East Java. Puan expressed her commitment to helping Islamic boarding schools, especially through legislative tasks.
“My commitment to encourage greater attention to pesantren,” he explained.
Some of the Gus who held a meeting with Puan included the caretaker of the Langitan Tuban Islamic Boarding School, KH Maksum Faqih who was one of the initiators of the Ta’aruf event with Puan. Then there are KH Nabil Hasbullah (Ponpes Darul Hikam Ponorogo), KH Moh Hasib Wahab (Ponpes Bahrul Ulum Tambakberas Jombang), and KH Moh Hisyam (Probolinggo), KH Nabil Hasbullah (Pondok Pesantren Darul Hikam Joresan Mlarak Ponorogo).
During the meeting, Gus Maksum likened Puan to returning to the house that Bung Karno and the NU Kiai had built. The Gus also agreed to call Puan as Ning.
“It’s like coming back home. If you return home, you must be comfortable as a family. Because we are together and are in the same family as Gus-Gus, we just call them Ning Maharani,” said Gus Maksum.
Gus Maksum also hoped that Bung Karno’s example as a national figure who was close to the ulama would continue to be followed.
“We students and nationalists must unite, must be defended. God willing, nothing will shake Bung Karno’s ideals,” said Gus Maksum.
Gus Maksum Faqih then told how close Bung Karno and the NU Kiai were, who were the grandfathers of the Gus present.
“Bung Karno always asked for support from NU Kiai. Our grandparents’ friendship with Ning Puan’s grandfather is always maintained. We cannot escape the history that nationalists and religious (people) have always been together,” he said.
The Gus present agreed with Gus Maksum’s statement. Like Gus Nabil Hasbullah who stated the importance of close relations between ulama and nationalist figures.
“If religion is not nationalist, it will become a transnational (ideology),” said Gus Nabil.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the MPR Ahmad Basarah who was present at the meeting stated that the gathering was a historical task as Bung Karno’s third generation.
“Continuing the tradition of gathering their grandfathers,” said Basarah.****
