The Polemic Of Hasyim Asy'ari Not Present At The Indonesian History Dictionary In Today's Memory, April 22, 2021

JAKARTA Memories of today, four years ago, April 22, 2021, the Minister of Education and Culture (Mendikbud), Nadiem Makarim apologized to Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) due to the name Kiai Haji Hasyim Asy'ari not present at the Indonesian History Dictionary. He emphasized that the dictionary was prepared before he took office.

Previously, the presence of the Indonesian History Dictionary made by the Ministry of Education and Culture brought a stir. The dictionary does not include the name of the great character Hasyim Asy'ari. While other figures are present. There are protests that arise from everywhere.

Hasyim Asy'ari's great footprint of educating the nation's children cannot be underestimated. He is a big figure who brought modern Islamic education to the archipelago. He was able to combine religious and western education.

The big breakthrough is to present NU. NU's presence is considered an important forum that accommodates the interests of educational institutions such as Islamic boarding schools in Java. He did not only mobilize his students to study.

Hasyim Asy'ari also gave NU's blessing to fight against the invaders. This work made him an influential figure in the history of the journey of the Indonesian nation. The Indonesian government even pinned the title of national hero to him.

The problem arises. Hasyim Asy'ari's name did not appear in the Indonesian History Dictionary issued by the Ministry of Education and Culture in 2021. In fact, the big names of other figures appeared. There are Dutch figures who are part of Indonesian history alone.

This condition made criticism of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Ministry of Education and Culture is considered not to appreciate Hasyim Asy'ari's great struggle for the nation and state. The Ministry of Education and Culture was also asked to immediately withdraw the Indonesian History Dictionary which was circulated.

The Ministry of Education and Culture was asked to revise and re-perfect the material by adding a profile from Hasyim Asy'ari. The error was requested to be handled immediately by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

"After reading and hearing views from many circles, we asked the Ministry of Education and Culture to temporarily withdraw the Indonesian History Dictionary, both volume I and Volume II from circulation. We hope that there will be improvements in content or revisions before they are re-published and used as a subject for teaching historical subjects."

"Surprisingly, on the cover of the History Dictionary Volume I there is an image of KH Hasyim Asy'ari, but in the content it is not included in his history and work in his struggle. Even more strange are the names of other figures who entered this dictionary, including the name of the Governor of the Netherlands HJ Van Mook and Japanese military figure Harada Kumaichi, who are seen as contributing to the process of forming the Indonesian state," said the elite of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Syaiful Huda as quoted on the sec.com page, April 20, 2021.

Deru protested even more massively. Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim took a stand. He immediately visited the PBNU Office on April 22, 2021. He emphasized his visit to straighten out issues related to the absence of Hasyim Asy'ari's name in the Indonesian History Dictionary.

Nadiem also apologized to NU and all Indonesian people. Nadiem considered that the preparation of the Indonesian History Dictionary was not carried out in its era. The dictionary was compiled in 2017. He also admitted that he was surprised when the name Hasyim Asy'ari was not there.

Nadiem immediately ordered the Ministry of Education and Culture team to immediately perfect the Indonesian History Dictionary, complete with Hasyim Asy'ari's profile. He considered the order an important response when criticism came.

"First, this opportunity to be able to straighten out this issue, even though this happened was designed before I became a minister. So we will immediately correct this and we apologize for all the inconvenience," said Nadiem as quoted by the COMPASS.com page, April 22, 2021.