Jakarta, NU Online
A culturalist born in Banyumas, Central Java, Ahmad Tohari said that there had been a shift of cultural orientation within the body of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) for having orientation which is now more elitist instead of preserving the orientation which has so far been more populist.<>

Tohari made the remarks as he received the Asrul Sani Award along with such culturalists as D Zawawi Imron, Slamet Rahardjo Djarot, Rofiqoh Darto Wahab, and Isha Anshori Harmaj at a meeting to commemorate the NU Online's 10th anniversary at the NU headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday (28/3).

The author a novel titled Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk said the involvement of a number of NU board members in regions was a phenomenon of the NU's lack of responsibility for the social aspects.

"I say clearly and courageously, that's very dangerous!" Said Tohari.

According to him, NU and populist cultural orientation are insperable things for the social aspects are such a spirit for the Nahdliyin based organization.

"Where will the NU go if it does not hold an amulet called populist orientation," he said.

Tohari greatly appreciated the late KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) publicly said he 'would take the distance' if NU had no populist-oriented purposes, saying this attitude was an indication that culture at NU is not necessarily elitist.

He did praise the Zawawi Imron's works for successfully implementing the literature standards appropriately. The works of poet popularly known the "golden sickle", he said, were littered fully with stories about people on the edge instead of stories related to the interests of politicians and capital owners.

Literature, Tohari added, was an effective means to hone the human psyche. The NU's struggles should be dealt with through through the literature. "Let us be cultured so that we could be NU followers that are more mindful," Tohari who receives the Asrul Sani Awards for the versatile writer category said.

Editor: Sudarto Murtaufiq