YOGYAKARTA (October 22, 2025) — The courtyard of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta was filled with solemn pride and vibrant energy as hundreds of lecturers, staff, and students gathered to mark Santri Day 2025. Leading the ceremony, Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan delivered a powerful call that transcended time and tradition — a reminder that the legacy of pesantren must continue to inspire the nation’s journey toward global civilization.

Carrying the national theme “Safeguarding Indonesia’s Independence Toward Global Civilization,” this year’s commemoration was more than a formal ritual. It became a declaration of purpose, affirming that the spirit of the santri — once embodied in the struggle for independence — must now evolve into intellectual, moral, and spiritual leadership in the age of globalization.

In his address, Prof. Noorhaidi conveyed the message of the Minister of Religious Affairs, beginning with condolences for the tragedy at Pesantren Al-Khoziny in Sidoarjo, East Java, which claimed 67 lives. The Ministry, he said, had promptly visited the site, extended assistance, and ensured recovery measures. “This reflects the state’s genuine care and presence for pesantren and its students,” he stated.

Recalling the historical roots of Santri Day, the Rector reminded that October 22 commemorates the Jihad Resolution declared by KH. Hasyim Asy’ari in 1945 — a call that ignited the people’s resistance and led to the heroic Battle of Surabaya. “Today, our jihad is no longer fought on the battlefield, but in classrooms, laboratories, and digital spaces. It is a struggle for knowledge, virtue, and integrity,” he affirmed.

He further noted the state’s growing recognition of pesantren through the Pesantren Law of 2019, Presidential Regulation No. 82 of 2021 on the Pesantren Endowment Fund, and regional policies that empower santri communities. “These initiatives prove that the state acknowledges pesantren as the moral backbone of the nation,” he said.

Marking a decade since the first national Santri Day in 2015, Prof. Noorhaidi emphasized that pesantren have become vital centers for nurturing character and intellect. “From pesantren have emerged scholars, leaders, and thinkers who now shape the global discourse,” he noted.

Concluding his address, Prof. Noorhaidi called upon the younger generation to uphold knowledge, ethics, and resilience. “Preserve the noble tradition of pesantren, but embrace innovation. Carry its spirit into public life and the international arena. The future of Indonesia will be written by the hands of its santri.”

As one of Indonesia’s foremost Islamic universities, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta reaffirms its commitment to integrating Islamic values with modern scholarship, advancing an inclusive and interconnected vision of faith, science, and civilization.

(Public Relations Office, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta)