Ridwan Kamil: Many West Java Kiai-Santri Sacrifice For NKRI

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil/PHOTO VIA ANTARA

BANDUNG - West Java (Jabar) Governor M Ridwan Kamil said that from West Java many kiai and santri sacrificed their lives to defend Indonesia's independence, including their families.

"Uwa I am martyr until today, his body has not been found during the war against the Dutch in Ujungberung," said Ridwan Kamil, who is often called Kang Emil when he was the supervisor of the West Java Santri Day commemoration ceremony at the Gasibu field in Bandung, quoted by Antara, Friday, October 22.

With limited participants and implementing health protocols, the ceremony at the Gasibu field was the first time after being closed for a long time due to COVID-19. "This is the first time it has been open for a long time because of COVID-19," said Ridwan Kamil.

According to Kang Emil, the commemoration of santri day every October 22 is very important so that we can continue to carry the spirit of hubul waton minal faith, because defending the country is also part of faith.

The resolution of jihad on October 22, 1945, which was the forerunner of the birth of the santri day, became an encouragement during the battle against the invaders in Surabaya.

At the West Java Santri Day commemoration ceremony, Kang Emil read the speech of the Minister of Religion of the Republic of Indonesia. The national theme that was raised on this year's santri day was that the students were ready for body and soul.

According to Kang Emil, the theme means that students in the past were always on standby against the invaders and nowadays students must be strong against ideologies that threaten the state.

"Now students must be strong against ideologies that threaten Pancasila, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and the values of the santri pledge, the students must be at the forefront to straighten it out," he said.

Santri mentally and physically alert also have the meaning of exemplary in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through obedience to implementing health protocols and successful vaccinations so that they can return to normal.

Kang Emil said in addition to the stipulation of santri day in 2015, there are two other important regulations that support santri and pesantren in Indonesia, namely the issuance of the Pesantren Law and the latest Presidential Regulation concerning endowments for the management of pesantren and West Java is also the first province in Indonesia to issue a regional regulation. Boarding school.

"I conveyed that the first province in Indonesia to have a Perda on Pesantren after the Pesantren Law was issued was West Java," said Kang Emil.