For the members of the Indonesian Islamic Student Movement (PMII), Gus Dur is akin to a prophet. Such sentiments echo in Malik Haramain’s work in the book ‘PMII di Simpang Jalan?’ It’s not an exaggeration to liken Gus Dur to such a revered figure. He instilled a spirit of critical thinking within PMII.
In the 1980s, Gus Dur began actively writing about NU from various perspectives: cultural, social, and political. His writings eventually became the cornerstone of the critical tradition within PMII.
During that time, PMII members started gaining confidence, no longer adhering strictly to NU’s traditional culture. Understandably, PMII, culturally tied to NU, seemed influenced by NU’s traditional way of thinking. They even dared to question fundamental issues within NU.
This phenomenon irked the elderly kiais, who deemed PMII’s actions as departing from the traditional Islamic norms of NU. Yet, because Gus Dur held the position of Chairman of PBNU at the time, PMII members felt sheltered from the condemnations of the senior NU ulama.