Gatra Magazine, August 21st, 2006
Expert on cultural affairs, Emha Ainun Najib (Cak Nun) is not only admired in his home country. This is evident in the work of Ian L Betts, the writer of the book “Jalan Sunyi Emha”, who is originally from London, England.
The writer, who first came to Indonesia in 1992, admits that he is attracted to this Indonesian’s work, with his many activities in literature, poetry, essays, spirituality and grassroots social work.
"This person is Emha Ainun Nadjib," he said during a discussion of the book “Jalan Sunyi Emha” held by the Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM, or Students’ Exectutive Body) of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya.
This convert to Islam, who studied Islam at the Paramadina Institute, Jakarta, and who was taught by Cak Nur (the late Professor Dr. H. Nurcholish Madjid) in 1993-1994, says he first met Cak Nun in 1998.
In their meeting in May 1998, Ian, who became a Muslim in 1994, promised to help make Cak Nun more well-known outside Indonesia.
"The nature of the silence to which I am referring is found in the lack of recognition afforded Cak Nun, even while the cultural diplomacy that he conducts has important implications internationally, via the music of the Kiai Kanjeng Gamelan Group," he said.
However, Cak Nun himself when speaking at the book discussion commented that “Jalan Sunyi Emha” is not a biography, but an account of music group Kiai Kanjeng’s tour of 25 major cities around the world. "Because of that, don’t stop at Emha, as the most important thing is what Emha does, not Emha himself. The Silent Pilgrimage is also the path of Ian L Betts”, he said.
Emha’s continuing career has been a spiritual pilgrimage; a pilgrimage conducted away from the clamour of politics or the jostling for favour or position yet a true pilgrimage in that it has been defined and shaped by deeply spiritual and highly pluralistic Islamic symbols. Though Emha’s work is neither unspoken nor unseen, it is also not declared, announced or rewarded. His work in community affairs, in religious thought and in the arts has remained unrecognised and unsung for the true value that it represents in the country of his birth. Because Emha seeks neither to proclaim his work nor to profit from it, we chose to deem his life and career a Silent Pilgrimage – a lifelong journey of faith.
Expert on cultural affairs, Emha Ainun Najib (Cak Nun) is not only admired in his home country. This is evident in the work of Ian L Betts, the writer of the book “Jalan Sunyi Emha”, who is originally from London, England.
The writer, who first came to Indonesia in 1992, admits that he is attracted to this Indonesian’s work, with his many activities in literature, poetry, essays, spirituality and grassroots social work.
"This person is Emha Ainun Nadjib," he said during a discussion of the book “Jalan Sunyi Emha” held by the Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM, or Students’ Exectutive Body) of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya.
This convert to Islam, who studied Islam at the Paramadina Institute, Jakarta, and who was taught by Cak Nur (the late Professor Dr. H. Nurcholish Madjid) in 1993-1994, says he first met Cak Nun in 1998.
In their meeting in May 1998, Ian, who became a Muslim in 1994, promised to help make Cak Nun more well-known outside Indonesia.
"The nature of the silence to which I am referring is found in the lack of recognition afforded Cak Nun, even while the cultural diplomacy that he conducts has important implications internationally, via the music of the Kiai Kanjeng Gamelan Group," he said.
However, Cak Nun himself when speaking at the book discussion commented that “Jalan Sunyi Emha” is not a biography, but an account of music group Kiai Kanjeng’s tour of 25 major cities around the world. "Because of that, don’t stop at Emha, as the most important thing is what Emha does, not Emha himself. The Silent Pilgrimage is also the path of Ian L Betts”, he said.
Emha’s continuing career has been a spiritual pilgrimage; a pilgrimage conducted away from the clamour of politics or the jostling for favour or position yet a true pilgrimage in that it has been defined and shaped by deeply spiritual and highly pluralistic Islamic symbols. Though Emha’s work is neither unspoken nor unseen, it is also not declared, announced or rewarded. His work in community affairs, in religious thought and in the arts has remained unrecognised and unsung for the true value that it represents in the country of his birth. Because Emha seeks neither to proclaim his work nor to profit from it, we chose to deem his life and career a Silent Pilgrimage – a lifelong journey of faith.
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