Mahfud MD Assumes HB Jassin Deserves The National Hero Title

Mahfud MD/DOC Kemenko Polhukam via ANTARA

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD assessed that the Muslim scholar and literary critic from Gorontalo, Hans Bague Jassin, deserved the title of national hero.

"HB Jassin's works have contributed greatly to the richness of the Indonesian language repertoire and the formation of Indonesian civilization," said Mahfud when giving a speech at the seminar at the Nusantara DPR building, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, February 23.

Mahfud, who currently also serves as Chairman of the Council for Titles, Merits, and Honors, believes that the curriculum vitae, records, and reputation of HB Jassin are sufficient reasons why he deserves the title.

However, there are procedures that must be followed before someone is declared a national hero.

The stages that must be passed, one of which is holding a seminar to discuss the figure who will be nominated as a national hero.

Not only that, the figure must also be proposed by other parties.

"Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Affairs will process who is eligible (the proposed name) to enter the Degree Council," explained Mahfud as quoted from his written broadcast.

In the seminar entitled "HB Jassin the Hero of Indonesian Civilization", Mahfud said that the literary figure played a role in building Indonesian literature, especially during the struggle for independence. This can be seen from his work on translating “Max Havelaar” by Eduard Douwes Dekker, whose pen name is Multatuli.

HB Jassin translated the literary works into Indonesian.

"This work became one of the sources that raised resistance to injustice and inequality during the Dutch colonial period," explained the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs.

He also believes that HB Jassin's works have shaped the substance of language and literature education in Indonesia.

Mahfud conveyed that language education is not only teaching language properly and correctly, but also beautiful language and in accordance with the Indonesian sense.

Not only in the field of literature, but HB Jassin is also an active editor of several publishers of books and magazines of Indonesian literature.

According to Mahfud, HB Jassin has developed literary criticism that is both educative and appreciative. He added that the literary criticisms delivered by HB Jassin put forward sensitivity and feelings rather than literary scientific theories.