Second, the issue of national identity is increasingly porous. Pesantren, who once succeeded in building self-identity and human character, now seem to consider returning to their original khittah – affirming self-identity in broader structural and cultural struggles and having high independence. Nevertheless, any scientific development in Pesantrens must still depart and be based on their identity and freedom. Suppose the early pesantren were once able to develop science that sided with the plurality and interests of the oppressed and marginalized communities. Is it impossible for the current pesantren to actualize and revitalize that capability? In this latter context, Pesantrens and significantly higher education institutions can learn a lot from the current generation of Indian intellectuals who were the first to act and were successful in developing postcolonial scholarship favouring those who once colonized.
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