Six students of Archipelago Literature at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta who are members of the Yogyakarta Javanese Literature Studio (SSJY) staged a radio play at the DIY Language Center, Monday (19/10) evening. They presented a manuscript by Handung Kussudyarsono entitled "Isih Jembar Kalangane" from the book collection of KR's Plays of Jokes. Because the format is a radio play, the supporters of the story just sit and read the script. Six people read the dialogues of the story characters, while the other reads the narrative. To liven up the atmosphere, the stage was accompanied by gamelan. Before presenting "Isih Jembar Kalangane", UGM students first staged "Layangan Tatas" by Margareta Widhi Pratiwi who was also present that night to watch the script being staged. The dialogue and narration of this play several times made the audience laugh. The staging of the radio play is part of the DIY Language and Literature Week which takes place Monday-Saturday (19-24/10) with various activities, such as language and literature workshops as well as language and literature competitions. According to the DIY Language and Literature Week Coordinator who is also chairman of SSJY, Yohanes Adhi Satiyoko, the selection of the script from Jenaka KR was because in the 1980s Jenaka KR was close to people's hearts with its figures such as Handung Kusudyarsono, Suwariyun, and others. “I feel happy because almost all of the young people who attended this activity attended. It turns out that Javanese literature is still attached to the hearts of young people," he said. In addition to the drama script, there was also a performance of a 'short story' entitled "Sandhal Goreng" by Stella, a UGM student who is also an alumnus of the Javanese Literature Workshop at the DIY Language Center. There is also a story about a ghost, entitled "Pocongan Numpak Pit Modifikasi" by Harya Widada which was delivered in a monologue by Mas Lurah Citra Panambang (Bagus Febrianto) which ended the performance that night. At the beginning of the performance, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta students who are members of the Gandewa Studio presented an 'acapella geguritan'. Supriyanto from the Bantul Studio also read geguritan to fill in the pause after the performance of “Isih Jembar Kalangane”. (Source: KR 21/10).

The Nusantara Manuscript Society Association (Manassa) together with the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, will hold the XIX Nusantara Manuscript International Symposium on August 7-9, 2023 in Yogyakarta. The event, which is held every two years, aims to preserve the cultural heritage of the archipelago, especially ancient manuscripts and manuscripts, so that they can bring benefits in the midst of globalization and the times.

The symposium themed “Strengthening Indonesianness Through the Study of Nusantara Manuscripts” brought together around 100 participants and 25 national and international speakers. The discussion was divided into eight panels that discussed various aspects of manuscripts, such as cross-culture, digitization, conservation, hoaxes, and its relation to the creative industry. On the last day, participants visited historical sites related to manuscripts in Yogyakarta.

This activity received support from various government institutions, such as the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo), and the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). The Minister of State Secretary, Prof. Dr. Pratikno, M. Soc., appreciated the efforts to preserve manuscripts as an ancestral heritage that contains the wisdom of the nation's life.

The Chairperson of the Committee, Dr. Arsanti Wulandari, M. Hum, stated that this symposium is an important momentum to strengthen national identity through the study of manuscripts that are rich in local wisdom values. Manassa Chairman, Dr. Munawar Holil, added that the symposium was also a gathering place and a forum for scientific research results for experts.

There were eight panel discussions held in this symposium, including: (1) Cross Cultural Phenomenon in Nusantara Manuscripts; (2) Digital Humanities and Nusantara Manuscript Studies; (3) Nature and Nusantara Manuscripts; (4) Ethnoscience for Nusantara Manuscript Studies; (5) Nusantara Manuscript Studies and Sustainable Development Issues; (6) Preservation and Conservation of Nusantara Manuscripts; (7) Reportage, Rumors, and Hoaxes in Nusantara Manuscripts; (8) Nusantara Manuscripts and Creative Industries.