Jakarta, NU Online
NU historian KH Agus Sunyoto asserted that santri (those who study and live in pesantren /Islamic boarding schools) are the representation of indigenous peoples from pesantren circles having contributed to uphold the nation's independence through the so-called Jihad Resolution on  October 22 initiated by KH Hasyim Asy'ari, the founder of NU.
<>
He also explained that the term of santri is originally from Indonesian, in contrast to the term of so-called siswa (student) coming from the Dutch language.

If traced back to its history, according to the chairman of the NU Indonesian Muslim Artists and Culturalists Association (Lesbumi NU), Indonesia was initially considered the Japan's puppet state by allies since its independence was given by Japan. This could be explained that before the independence of Indonesia was declared, Sukarno and Hatta had visited Japan to meet with the Emperor.

"A great Meeting in Ikada Stadium was also guarded by the Japanese army. Not to mention the Proclamation text typed by a Japanese national, Admiral Meida," Agus told NU Online here on Wednesday (14/10).

After Japan lost the war by Allied forces or NICA, they tried to re-colonize Indonesia in the second military aggression, Agus said, adding that the NICA soldiers were apparently surprised by the resistance indgenous people from pesantren circles.

"From here they thought that the independence of Indonesia was not as a gift from Japan, but was strongly supported by all the Indonesian people," the author of Atlas Wali Songo said.

Therefore, according to Agus, the establishment of the National Santri Day is not just as an agenda of of certain group interests, but for the sake of the entire nation of Indonesia when it was driven by the Jihad Resolution, a verdict issued by KH Hasyim Asy'ari stating that defending the homeland from invaders is an obligation upon every individual (fardlu ayn).

In this case, President Jokowi himself has agreed to establish October 22 as the National Santri Day through a would-be issued Presidential Decree. Even th president will reportedly hold an event in Jakarta to welcome this much-awaited National Santri Day. (masdar)