Belajar Mencintai Tanah Air Melalui Lakon Kumbakarna Senapati
Belajar Mencintai Tanah Air Melalui Lakon Kumbakarna Senapati
To celebrate its 68th anniversary, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has organised a shadow puppet play for one full night with the title Kumbakarna Senapati (Kumbakarna Commander). The performance was presented by shadow puppet master, Ki Sigit Djono Saputro, from Cilacap on Friday (15/12) in Balairung, UGM Main Office, and was viewed by various members of community.
Ki Sigit explained the Kumbakarna Senapati play was chosen as it would give examples to the audience on how Kumbakarna figure in the play defends his country, Ngalengka, due to his love for the country. Kumbakarna still marches on and fights the enemy troops, the incarnate of Vishnu, who is impossible to beat by him. Kumbakarna could not bear to see his country being invaded by the monkey troops from Pancawati.
“He fights not because he is defending his brother, Rahwana - who is wrong, but to defend his country from being destroyed,” he said.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., who also came to the performance said this theme was relevant to the theme of the UGM anniversary this year, which is to Defend the State and the Country. According to Panut, positive values from the spirit of Kumbakarna in defending his country needs to be followed by the students.
“The students can fight under that same spirit in the context of this era, such as by making innovation and improving welfare and prosperity of the nation,” said Rector.
Ilyas Al akbar, one member of the audience, said the play was very good to run as it helped conserve the culture of Indonesia. Another viewer, Rahmi Sabrina Hamami, similarly had the opinion that this was very good to sustain the culture.
“This event can serve as a reminder for us to conserve and not to forget one of culture forms that we own,” said Rahmi.