Santri's Devotion to Mother Earth

The history of the establishment of Santri Day began in 2015, when President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) declared Presidential Decree No. 22 of 2015 on the Establishment of National Santri Day on 22 October. This date was chosen because it coincides with the signing of the Jihad Resolution (22 October 1945), initiated by the founder of NU (Nahdlatul Ulama), KH. Hasyim Asy’ari, and dozens of kiai from across Java and Madura. As is well known, the Jihad Resolution was a form of support by the santri for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Not long after the announcement establishing Santri Day, contradictory statements emerged. Among them, the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Natsir, did not quite agree with President Joko Widodo's decree establishing Santri Day. According to him, there is no need for exclusivity between santri and non-santri. Until now, santri and non-santri have already merged. “PP Muhammadiyah objects to Santri Day,” Haedar told kompas.com (Monday, 19/10/2015). And he said that Santri Day was feared to instead create new walls of primordialism within society.

Setting aside this pro and con, the role of the santri in this country's independence is undeniable and cannot be underestimated. Santri are like the pillars of the house of NKRI's history because of their contribution in fighting for and defending NKRI. Santri were actively involved in defending Indonesia's independence when the colonisers launched renewed attacks after the proclamation of independence.

That means 22 October was designated National Santri Day by President Jokowi not without reason. Among other things, it is inseparable from the historic events carried out by the santri. It was KH Hasyim Asy’ari, who at that time was Rais Akbar of NU, through the Jihad Resolution. This national resolution was also an answer to a question put by Bung Karno to Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari through his envoy: what is the ruling on defending the country? Not Islam. Once again, the country!

Upon receiving that question, Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari gathered all the Kiai of Java and Madura on 21 October 1945 at the office of PB ANO (Ansor Nahdlatul Ulama) at Jln. Bubutan VI/2 Surabaya to deliberate on the matter. Finally, under the direction of Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari, the meeting chaired by KH.Wahab Hasbullah issued an extremely important decision on 22 October 1945, which then changed the history of this nation.

The decision read out by Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari later became known as the Nahdlatul Ulama Jihad Resolution. One of the important points of the Jihad Resolution is that defending the country against the colonisers is obligatory.

Once the proclamation became known, the santri gladly welcomed the call for jihad against the colonisers. All the more so because it was issued by Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari. He was the most influential Kiai in the archipelago, especially in Java and Madura, at that time. After the passing of his teacher, Kiai Kholil Bangkalan, the call for jihad from K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari was received without hesitation.

When Dutch troops brought the Allies and landed in Surabaya with the intention of retaking Indonesia, the santri who joined the Hisbullah and Fisabilillah militias met them with fervour. Then the heroic battle of 10 November took place, remembered by history. General Mallaby was killed in the battle. The santri forces bravely drove back the Allied troops. Courageously, they met the Allied bullets with swings of sharpened bamboo. And history has commemorated that great battle (detik.com)

The Fighting Spirit of the Santri

When colonisers came to invade this country, the santri were ready to stand at the very front to defend and protect it. A fighting spirit and a willingness to die. They made it possible for the Indonesian people today to enjoy the pleasure of freedom and independence in line with the wishes of the santri and the people of the past, who constantly planned what they had to do and what strategies they had to devise to free the people from colonisation.

Based on this, it can be concluded that the nationalism of the santri for NKRI has never faded. Santri are willing to sacrifice anything; fighting for NKRI is non-negotiable. Pancasila as the foundation of the state is like a shared house for all groups. Therefore, everyone who lives in it has an obligation to protect it, including the santri.

These great conditions and characters then affirm that the santri, in their struggle, have sincerely and wholeheartedly dedicated their lives physically and are willing to sacrifice anything, and their fighting spirit for a better Indonesia. More prosperous and more dignified on this earth.

With the role of the santri gradually fading, high public awareness is needed to better commemorate the struggle of the santri in defending NKRI, by inviting people to make the Ayo Mondok programme launched by the government a success, to strengthen again the existence of the santri as heroes of the struggle for NKRI who have good manners and ethics.

The formation of study assemblies (majelis) also needs to be encouraged so that people always remember and commemorate the struggle of the santri, who were willing to sacrifice to defend and maintain a peaceful and prosperous Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, by establishing associations of NU members   in each region.

The history of the establishment of Santri Day began in 2015, when President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) declared Presidential Decree No. 22 of 2015 on the Establishment of National Santri Day on 22 October. This date was chosen because it coincides with the signing of the Jihad Resolution (22 October 1945), initiated by the founder of NU (Nahdlatul Ulama), KH. Hasyim Asy’ari, and dozens of kiai from across Java and Madura. As is well known, the Jihad Resolution was a form of support by the santri for the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

Not long after the announcement establishing Santri Day, contradictory statements emerged. Among them, the Central Board of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Natsir, did not quite agree with President Joko Widodo's decree establishing Santri Day. According to him, there is no need for exclusivity between santri and non-santri. Until now, santri and non-santri have already merged. “PP Muhammadiyah objects to Santri Day,” Haedar told kompas.com (Monday, 19/10/2015). And he said that Santri Day was feared to instead create new walls of primordialism within society.

Setting aside this pro and con, the role of the santri in this country's independence is undeniable and cannot be underestimated. Santri are like the pillars of the house of NKRI's history because of their contribution in fighting for and defending NKRI. Santri were actively involved in defending Indonesia's independence when the colonisers launched renewed attacks after the proclamation of independence.

That means 22 October was designated National Santri Day by President Jokowi not without reason. Among other things, it is inseparable from the historic events carried out by the santri. It was KH Hasyim Asy’ari, who at that time was Rais Akbar of NU, through the Jihad Resolution. This national resolution was also an answer to a question put by Bung Karno to Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari through his envoy: what is the ruling on defending the country? Not Islam. Once again, the country!

Upon receiving that question, Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari gathered all the Kiai of Java and Madura on 21 October 1945 at the office of PB ANO (Ansor Nahdlatul Ulama) at Jln. Bubutan VI/2 Surabaya to deliberate on the matter. Finally, under the direction of Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari, the meeting chaired by KH.Wahab Hasbullah issued an extremely important decision on 22 October 1945, which then changed the history of this nation.

The decision read out by Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari later became known as the Nahdlatul Ulama Jihad Resolution. One of the important points of the Jihad Resolution is that defending the country against the colonisers is obligatory.

Once the proclamation became known, the santri gladly welcomed the call for jihad against the colonisers. All the more so because it was issued by Kiai Hasyim Asy’ari. He was the most influential Kiai in the archipelago, especially in Java and Madura, at that time. After the passing of his teacher, Kiai Kholil Bangkalan, the call for jihad from K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari was received without hesitation.

When Dutch troops brought the Allies and landed in Surabaya with the intention of retaking Indonesia, the santri who joined the Hisbullah and Fisabilillah militias met them with fervour. Then the heroic battle of 10 November took place, remembered by history. General Mallaby was killed in the battle. The santri forces bravely drove back the Allied troops. Courageously, they met the Allied bullets with swings of sharpened bamboo. And history has commemorated that great battle (detik.com)

The Fighting Spirit of the Santri

When colonisers came to invade this country, the santri were ready to stand at the very front to defend and protect it. A fighting spirit and a willingness to die. They made it possible for the Indonesian people today to enjoy the pleasure of freedom and independence in line with the wishes of the santri and the people of the past, who constantly planned what they had to do and what strategies they had to devise to free the people from colonisation.

Based on this, it can be concluded that the nationalism of the santri for NKRI has never faded. Santri are willing to sacrifice anything; fighting for NKRI is non-negotiable. Pancasila as the foundation of the state is like a shared house for all groups. Therefore, everyone who lives in it has an obligation to protect it, including the santri.

These great conditions and characters then affirm that the santri, in their struggle, have sincerely and wholeheartedly dedicated their lives physically and are willing to sacrifice anything, and their fighting spirit for a better Indonesia. More prosperous and more dignified on this earth.

With the role of the santri gradually fading, high public awareness is needed to better commemorate the struggle of the santri in defending NKRI, by inviting people to make the Ayo Mondok programme launched by the government a success, to strengthen again the existence of the santri as heroes of the struggle for NKRI who have good manners and ethics.

The formation of study assemblies (majelis) also needs to be encouraged so that people always remember and commemorate the struggle of the santri, who were willing to sacrifice to defend and maintain a peaceful and prosperous Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, by establishing associations of NU members   in each region.