Goodbye, One of the Intelligentsia of the Nation

Azyumardi Azra left a mosaic of enlightening thoughts. His critical, independent and humble attitude deserves to become an example.

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Azyumardi Azra

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The treasures of Azyumardi Azra's thoughts during his lifetime have enlightened and educated the nation and the international community. His independent stance as well as his ability to keep his distance from authorities have placed him as an honorable figure. After the death of Azyumardi, the next generation can learn lessons and perpetuate their thoughts from one of the nation’s intelligentsia.

Based on information from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday (18/9/2022), Azyumardi, who was Chairman of the Press Council, passed away at 12:30 p.m. local time on Sunday at Serdang Hospital in Selangor, Malaysia. According to information from Serdang Hospital, he died of a heart disorder.

The Professor of History at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) in Jakarta had been treated at Serdang Hospital since Friday (16/9). He was rushed to the hospital after experiencing shortness of breath while traveling from Indonesia to Kuala Lumpur. In Malaysia, Azyumardi, who died at the age of 67, was scheduled to be a speaker at the International Islamic Cosmopolitan Conference held by the Malaysian Islamic Youth Force (ABIM) in Selangor on Saturday (17/9).

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Azyumardi's body will be repatriated on Monday (19/9) and rested at UIN in Ciputat, South Tangerang, before being buried at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in Jakarta.

For about 30 years, Azyumardi had devoted himself as a lecturer at the UIN. The top position on the campus had been achieved by becoming the rector of the UIN for two periods, namely 1998-2002 and 2002-2006. Just four months ago, Azyumardi was entrusted with the position of chairman of the Press Council. Before becoming a civil servant in 1985, Azyumardi was a journalist at Panji Masyarakat magazine (1979-1985). He was also productive in writing.

His broad thinking and knowledge had made him a respected figure, both at home and abroad. He won a number of awards. The United Kingdom, for example, awarded him the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010, making Azyumardi the only non-Commonwealth person to be knighted.

On campus I can criticize objectively. If I am in a party structure or otherwise, maybe I am not objective and there is a conflict of interest.

When interviewed by Kompas in 2015, Azyumardi spoke about the reasons for choosing his life’s path to serve the world of science and to provide enlightenment within the Muslim community.

"My service is at the UIN. I don't have an office anywhere else. The campus world is a lonely, solitary world, not a boisterous world. On campus I can criticize objectively. If I am in a party structure or otherwise, maybe I am not objective and there is a conflict of interest," he said (Kompas, 25/6/2015).

Humble

Chairman of the Central Executive Board of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir said, Azyumardi was a Muslim scholar and intellectual of the nation whose maqom was already Begawan (an ascetic person) or ar-rasih fil-'ilmi. His thinking was clear and comprehensive which described the depth of knowledge, especially in Islamic science, which is connected to various aspects of life. In addition, his attitude and thoughts during his life are memorable because he was full of humility even though he was at the peak of his position as a well-known intellectual.

Therefore, according to Haedar, it is important for the next generation to learn and absorb the mosaic of Azyumardi's thoughts that are intellectual and enlightening. "We really miss the intelligence of this nation's ascetic person," he said on Sunday (18/9).

KOMPAS/PRIYOMBODO (PRI)

Azyumardi Azra's collection of books in his old house which was used as a library.

Meanwhile, the secretary general of the executive board of Nahdlatul Ulama, Saifullah Yusuf, saw the deceased as an academic, a thinker and writer who made a real contribution to society. As an academic, Azyumardi did not only deal with campuses, but also activists who fought for public interest. The deceased also had good relations with various parties and frequently provided input to policy makers.

The chairman of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), Reverend Gomar Gultom, said Azyumardi had a close relationship with authorities. However, he could still keep his thoughts critical and independent.

“He was an independent thinker. His closeness to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration has not diminished his independence to express his critical views on the policies pursued by Jokowi," he said.

According to Gomar, Azyumardi was one of the nation's teachers. "Hopefully we can jointly continue all of his efforts to build public civility," said Gomar.

The Religious Affairs minister for the 2014-2019 period, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, said that even though Azyumardi was proven not to be tempted to enter practical politics, it did not mean that he was apolitical. His expertise as an Islamic historian had not stopped him from being involved in contemporary discourse, particularly on democracy, politics, law and socio-religion.

He kept his distance from power and continued to be an intellectual who was vocal in voicing public aspirations.

Condolences for the passing of Azyumardi were also conveyed by many prominent figures in this country, including the 10th and 12th vice president of the Republic of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD. ( SYA / PDS / TAM / RAZ/ WKM )

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.