BUKITTINGGI - Jam Gadang is exactly one hundred years old. At the age of 100, the icon of Bukittinggi City is considered not only a time indicator, but a marker of the long journey of Indonesian history.
This was conveyed by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon when attending the peak night of the 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang in the Jam Gadang Cultural Night event in Bukittinggi, Saturday (20/6).
According to Fadli, Jam Gadang has witnessed various important phases of the nation's journey. Starting from the colonial period, the national movement, independence, maintaining independence, to the development of modern Indonesia.
"Jam Gadang is not only a time marker, but also a marker of time," said Fadli.
He assessed that the existence of Jam Gadang recorded a long history and became an important part of the cultural identity of the Minangkabau people and Indonesia.
Fadli also appreciated the implementation of the one-hundredth anniversary of Jam Gadang which could be carried out through collaboration between various parties, ranging from local governments, the private sector, corporations to the community.
According to Fadli, culture is one of the main strengths of Indonesia as a country that has a very large cultural diversity.
"Culture is the source of our strength. We are a country with extraordinary diversity. Including Minangkabau with various expressions and cultural values," he said.
He hopes that the 100th anniversary of Jam Gadang will not stop as an annual ceremony, but will be able to strengthen public awareness of the importance of preserving the nation's cultural and historical heritage.
The Mayor of Bukittinggi, Ramlan Nurmatias, said the series of commemorations for the 100th anniversary of Jam Gadang had taken place since June 3 and ended with the peak night on June 20.
According to Ramlan, this momentum is an opportunity to strengthen the love of history and culture as well as confirm Bukittinggi's position as one of the important cultural centers in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, West Sumatra Deputy Governor Vasko Ruseimy said Jam Gadang was not only an icon of Bukittinggi, but also a symbol of the struggle and the history of the nation.
The series of celebrations is filled with various activities, ranging from photography competitions, the International Minangkabau Literacy Festival, international seminars, cultural art performances, to free culinary for the community.
Also present at the event were Meutia Hatta, Halida Hatta, the family of Syafruddin Prawiranegara, as well as representatives of regional governments from various districts and cities in West Sumatra.
The commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Jam Gadang is expected to be a reminder that cultural heritage not only stores traces of the past, but also becomes an important part of building Indonesia's identity in the future.
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