Cak Nur, Goenawan win freedom awards<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and poet Goenawan Mohamad
\nwere granted the Achmad Bakrie awards from the Freedom Institute
\n(Fins) on Saturday, for their devotion to socio-religious work
\nand literature respectively.<\/p>\n
Both Nurcholish, better known as Cak Nur, and Goenawan
\nreceived a trophy plus Rp 100 million (US$10,250) in prize money.<\/p>\n
Cak Nur was unable to attend the ceremony as he is currently
\nbeen treated at a Beijing hospital for his illness. He was
\nrepresented by his son.<\/p>\n
Goenawan, who is also a senior journalist, was selected for
\nhis work, which had inspired a new tradition in the country's
\nliterature. The institute said his writing was the product of
\nhis deep reflection on freedom.<\/p>\n
\"Goenawan has proven that language is not only a tool to
\narticulate freedom, but freedom itself,\" the institute said in a
\nstatement.<\/p>\n
Formerly a chief editor of Tempo news magazine, Goenawan is
\nnow a senior editor of the weekly and continues writing its
\ntrademark column Catatan Pinggir (Side Notes).<\/p>\n
Nurcholish was selected for propagating Islam as an inclusive,
\nopen religion, while remaining critical of the modern world. His
\nideas on secularization and pluralism are among his most
\noutstanding contributions.<\/p>\n
Nurcholish has been rector of Paramadina Mulya University
\nsince 1998. He holds a bachelor's degree in Arab literature and a
\nPh.D. from the Chicago University.<\/p>\n
The Freedom Institute also awarded the Achmad Bakrie
\nscholarship to Septinus George Saa -- a Papuan-born high school
\ngraduate who recently won an international physics competition in
\nWarsaw.<\/p>\n
The scholarship will cover Septinus' study until he obtains a
\nPh.D. degree at the university his choice, including those in
\nother countries.<\/p>\n
Last year's award winners were poet Sapardi Djoko Darmono and
\nscholar Ignas Kleden.<\/p>\n
Fins is a non-profit and independent organization, which
\npromotes research and liberty of thought.<\/p>\n
The Achmad Bakrie award -- named after entrepreneur Achmad
\nBakrie, the father of Fins founder businessman Aburizal Bakrie --
\nis given every August to Indonesian people who are instrumental
\nin the development of the country's social life and literature.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cak-nur-goenawan-win-freedom-awards-1447893297",
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