Poetry Reading Celebrates Youth Pledge Day in Solo
Jakarta. As part of country-wide events celebrating the 88th anniversary of the Youth Pledge on Friday (28/10), Solo, Central Java, hosted a special poetry reading.
The Youth Pledge declaration was made by young Indonesian nationalists during the Second Youth Congress in 1928, in which they recognized the then-Dutch colony as their motherland and pledged to speak the common language of Indonesian.
In Solo, the day was celebrated with poetry at the Sunan Hotel, with 28 representatives from different cultural and social groups reading the works of famous Indonesian poets, such as Chairil Anwar, Sapardi Djoko Damono, W.S. Rendra and Sitor Situmorang.
Among the readers were Miss Indonesia 2015 Anindya Kusuma Patri and prominent Muslim leader and poet Mustofa Bisri, known to Indonesians as "Gus Mus."
Gus Mus read one of his own poems, "Aku Masih Sangat Hafal Nyanyian Itu" ("I Still Remember That Song"), which carries a strong message of tolerance and unity, of Indonesia being the home for each and every Indonesian.
During the event, Anindya recited the Youth Pledge.
"Reading the pledge always makes me feel proud. It is something sacred for me, it makes me reflect on the day — that we have to continue the struggle of generations before us," she said.
The event was organized by the Sunan Hotel's general manager, Retno Wulandari, in collaboration with Bibit Puisi Community.
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