Through these writings, the authors aim to present their thoughts, grievances, humor, and, not to forget, the earnest hope of santri for self-critique and dialectical discourse on the socio-religious dynamics that have unfolded thus far. All of this is intimately linked to Nahdlatul Ulama itself.
NU Through the Lens of Santri
Mahfud Sulqi, one of the contributors to this book, attempts to view NU from various angles and conditions through his essay titled ‘Reflection: The NU I See.’ In his view, as NU surpasses a century of existence, it has permeated every aspect of human life. He further classifies NU into seven models: NU in the Village, NU in the City, NU in Pesantren, NU in Higher Education, NU in Social Media, NU in Practical Politics, and NU in World Peace. (Page 41)
Through these models, the existence and development of NU become vividly apparent. Although it is not without its shortcomings and areas for improvement, diligent efforts will guide NU toward a brighter and more promising future. One aspect he mentions is NU’s role in higher education. He believes that NU’s contribution to managing universities hasn’t been as successful as its work in Pesantren.
“Significantly different from Pesantren, which have been effectively shaped by NU’s teachings. In the field of higher education, it appears that NU has yet to showcase its true potential. LPTNU (the Nahdlatul Ulama Higher Education Institute) must work diligently in designing and structuring a university system that can produce outstanding intellectuals and academics,” writes Mahfud Sulqi.
In another intriguing essay titled ‘Reflection on a Century and the Progressive Vision of Nahdlatul Ulama under the Leadership of KH Yahya Cholil Staquf,’ Imam Syafi’i invites readers to reflect on the history behind the birth of Nahdlatul Ulama. He highlights that NU, established on the 16th of Rajab, 1344 H, was a strategic move by religious leaders in response to the Dutch colonial rule, which oppressed and discriminated against Muslims in Indonesia.