Indonesia should have a new culture, namely the culture of excellence in all areas of life, which can start from education. The basis of real advantage to the nation is the excellent man who has spirituality, intellect and work ethics.
Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X in his capacity as Chairman of the Gadjah Mada Alumni Association (KAGAMA) confirmed this when delivering a keynote speech in the KAGAMA National Seminar in the framework of 62nd UGM Anniversary with the theme Reinforcing the National Cultural Strategy for the Sovereignty of the Nation on Friday (16/12) night in Yogyakarta.
In front of about 350 participants of the seminar, Sultan HB X said those three spirits of excellence should become a culture if we want to create a more qualified and dignified civilization among the nations of the world. To instill the value of spirit in the development process, we should have the support of humans, environment, technology and cultural community.
"We need a cultural strategy that could create a community life with dignity and sovereignty to present excellent archipelago civilization," said Sultan HB X.
Sultan HB X described Indonesia has various advantages in the past that could inspire the current generation. However, as a result of colonialism, the relationships pattern between individuals with mutual cooperation have shifted; modernization and westernization have changed the society which were previously strong, from being clever to make use of the nature to meet their needs in life to being spoiled and consumptive people and poor of innovation.
"If we want to regain the past glory, it is the time to change the westernized mindset towards Indonesian mindset by not always measuring up things to the Western society, which eliminates the original value of the community," he said.
Sultan invited people to build self-confidence, because we are a distinctive nation, not a lazy native, a title that is often attached to us by Orientalists. "It is time for us to once again raise the spirit of mutual cooperation, strengthen social cohesion, mutual care, respect and common goodness," he said.
Hajriyanto Y Thohari, Vice Chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly, states that to bring about change in Indonesia, cultural strategy should be rooted in the archipelago civilization, not instant strategy that only wants to taking power after a change occurs.
Within the nation and state a fundamental change is urgent to do. Cultural injection is needed in order to fill cultural gaps by promoting cultural work rather than political work. "We need a cultural strategy that would pay attention to humanities, local wisdom and culture responsive stance. If you want change, it takes preparation," said Hajriyanto.
He asserted that it is time to re-arrange the archipelago culture by locating something that is not native of Indonesia to the context of the archipelago culture. Nationalization of democracy and free market contextualization need to be done,” he said.
Bondan Gunawan S. added that the key of national cohesion that made Indonesia strong so far is the cultural spirituality, a strong cultural integration. Cultural capital that grows throughout the country should be maintained. "We have a national identity, which are mutual cooperation, state ideology Pancasila, pluralism and local wisdom that always become common inspiration," he said.