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.
