A lucky person is a grateful one. A grateful person will be able to enjoy his life well. Gratitude will further enhance the meaning and quality of life. With gratitude, one's life will bring benefits to the wider public.
That's the highlight of the speech made by Professor of Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, Prof. Dr. Siti Chamamah Soeratno, during her 70th birthday commemoration, January 24, 2011, at UC UGM. The commemoration which raised the theme Trace and Direction of Literature and Culture Transformation was attended by, among others, GBPH Joyokusumo (representing Sri Sultan HB X), the Mayor of Yogyakarta, Hery Zudianto, Prof. Dr. Chairil Effendi (Rector of Universitas Tanjung Pura Pontianak), KPH Sumargono Kusumohadiningrat, and Prof. Dr. Haji Mohammad Salleh (University Kebangsaan Malaysia). Colleagues, friends, and students of Prof. Chamamah from various regions and institutions were also present.
Chamamah, who is also expert in philology (ancient manuscript) in the UGM Department of Indonesian Literature, asking herself and the audience whether the concept of the ideal scientist has truly become an integral part of every teacher, even a professor; an ideal scientist who not only shares knowledge to students, but also the community. "I also ask myself, whether the concept of the ideal scientist has really integrated with my everyday life," asked the chairman of PP Aisyiah organisation of 2000-2010 period.
The modest 70th birthday commemoration was also accompanied by testimonies by a few invited guests. Sri Sultan HB X, represented by GBPH Joyokusumo, said that the figure of Siti Chamamah can be an example and role model for young generation in the study of literature and ancient manuscripts. The study of literature; old literature, new literature, regional literature, and literary transformation, could open the horizon and history of other nations. “We can learn about the shift in community values. For example, the transformation from novel to film, poetry to music, and others," said Joyokusumo.
Meanwhile, Prof. Haji Salleh from University Kebangsaan Malaysia even recited a poem entitled Reading Literacy for Prof. Chamamah Soeratno. Earlier, in his testimony, Mohamed Salleh appraised Prof. Chamamah as an active figure that contributed much to the development of Malay and Indonesian literature. "Prof. Chamamah is a meritorious figure capable of enlivening Malay and Indonesian literature,"Salleh said.
After the testimonies and the cutting of rice cone ceremony, the event continued with the launching of three books by Prof. Siti Chamamah Soeratno: Literature: Theory and Methods, Trace and Direction of Literature and Culture Transformation, and Build Awareness, Inspire Change.
Still in the series of commemoration, tomorrow a seminar will be held in three sessions. The seminar will presents speakers from Indonesia and abroad, such as Henri Chambert-Loir (EFEO-France), Muhammad Haji Salleh (USM, Malaysia), Prof. Dr. Siti Chamamah Soeratno (UGM), Prof. Dr. Heddy Shri Ahimsa Putra ( UGM), Prof. Dr. Chairil Effendy (Pontianak), Prof. Dr. Yudiaryani (ISI), Prof. Dr. Titik Pudji Astuti (UI), Dr. Juliasih (UGM) and Dr. Kun Zachrun Istanti (UGM).
Prof. Dr. Siti Chamamah Soeratno born in Kauman, Yogyakarta, on January 24, 1941. The second child of (the late) Kyai Hanad Noor and Hj. Juhariah is married to Drs. Soeratno, S.U. They have two children, Ir. Ahmad Syauqi, M.M., and dr. Nurul Chusna, M.P.H. Some of her works have been published, among others, Introduction to Theory of Philology (1985), the History of Iskandar Zulkarnain: Textual Editing and Reception Analysis (1991), and Muhammadiyah as Art and Culture Movement: A Forgotten Intellectual Heritage (2009).