Their thought has yet to meet their tradition

Yogyakarta, NU Online
Many have been deeply concerned about the thought renewal of NU young cadres paying no more attention to the importance of pesantren culture.

The statement was raised at a meeting to discuss As'ad Ali's book entitled "Pergolakan di Jantung Tradisi: NU yang Saya Amati" at the University Club, Gajah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta on Sunday (14/9).<>

Present at the occasion were Gaffar Karim (lecturer at UGM), Ahmad Baso (Lajnah Ta'lif wan Nasr of NU), Dr St Sunardi (Postgraduate Program Director of Sanata Darma University), and Drs H A Zuhdi Muhdlor, M Hum (secretary of Yogyakarta's NU Regional Board).

Ahmad Baso said the renewal and the move of NU young cadres were initially influenced by KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) in 1984s. This scene was strikingly driven by the flow of neoliberalism from 1980 to 1990s that produced many youth movements especially in NGOs' channels.

"The connection with Western thoughts through donor agencies has produced new thoughts within Nahdliyin circles on such a scale. Though the renewal (tajdid) has also happened within NU, (NU) young circles have still lost their balance more and more," he said.

Baso also expressed his deepest concern over the fact there have been many NU young cadres basing their thought not on their genuine culture that is pesantren. In turn, he added, their existence could no longer be accepted in pesantren circles.

"They have put aside (their) tradition which should be such a stepping-stone to meet modernity and not considering the modernity to challenge the tradition. If so they will of course lose their character," Baso said.

In the meantime Dr St Sunardi said the fiqh (jurisprudence) considered as a basis of awareness of both thinking and acting of the Nahdliyin (NU followers) has likely faded. Whereas, he added the fiqh was very essential. (ron)