Clouds hung heavy over the Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) campus, reflecting the sorrowful atmosphere during Professor Kaelan’s memorial service at the Balairung courtyard.
The professor, a prominent observer of Pancasila philosophy and constitutional law, passed away on Wednesday (Dec. 25) at 08:50 WIB at RSUP Sardjito at the age of 78.
“We have lost one of UGM’s finest sons, who was actively involved in studying Pancasila philosophy,” said Professor M. Mukhtasar Syamsuddin, one of Professor Kaelan’s colleagues during his service at the UGM Faculty of Philosophy.
He said Professor Kaelan was a kind figure who dedicated his life to UGM.
Professor Wahyudi Kumorotomo, Secretary of the UGM Board of Professors, represented the UGM leadership and community to express condolences on the passing of Professor Kaelan at the age of 78.
“On behalf of the UGM family, we extend our deepest condolences to our teacher and role model. May the knowledge he shared become a source of eternal merit for him,” said Professor Kumorotomo.
Professor Kaelan was born in Magetan on Jan. 27, 1946. He taught at the UGM Faculty of Philosophy and the UGM Graduate School. On Jul. 10, 2007, he was inaugurated as a professor, delivering a speech titled “Epistemological Fallacies in the Reform Era and the Revitalization of the Nation-State.”
In his speech, Professor Kaelan stated that the global era affecting all nations had led Indonesia toward the collapse of the nation-state and the erosion of nationalism, unity, and Indonesian identity, which are part of the nation’s local wisdom.
“For Indonesia to realize a democratic, religious, and civilized society in the current global reform process, the nation-state must be revitalized, with its foundation grounded in the country’s philosophy,” said Professor Kaelan at the time.
After the memorial service at Balairung, UGM’s Central Office, the late professor was buried at the UGM family cemetery in Sawitsari, Sleman.
Author: Lazuardi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif
Photographer: Firsto