Academics State That Books Play a Role in Opening Public Spaces
Semarang, Central Java (ANTARA) - An academic from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta, Professor Zainal Arifin Mochtar, popularly known as Prof Uceng, stated that books play a vital role in opening up public spaces.
“Because when you read a book, you build awareness, and at the same time, you are opening up public spaces, spaces for discourse, debate, and discourse,” he said in Semarang, Central Java, on Saturday.
He made these remarks during a discussion and press conference titled “Literacy Movement for the Republic” and the launch of the short story collection “Cerita Khatulistiwa” at Gramedia Jalma Semarang.
He reminded the audience of the importance of maintaining public spaces amidst the increasing scarcity of physical public areas, such as children’s playgrounds or sports fields.
“It is becoming difficult to find, for example, football fields for children. They have been converted into futsal, padel, or mini-soccer pitches where access requires payment,” he said.
He noted that in the past, there were many public spaces where people could gather and engage in activities together without barriers.
Consequently, he observed that people are now beginning to gather within their own specific communities, which do not allow others free entry.
“That is why I say books should be opening. Therefore, this literacy festival is a way to open up public space and awareness,” said the constitutional law expert.
A Fuadi, the author of the short story collection “Cerita Khatunaistiwa”, shared tips for successfully writing fiction, noting that first, a book must provide new information.
Secondly, he stated, a book must be entertaining, and thirdly, it must possess the ability to allow readers to “escape” momentarily from the realities of life.
“It has the ‘ability to escape’. It allows the reader to run away for a moment from their real-life daily struggles into the world of fiction. And that is necessary,” he said.
Also participating as speakers were activist Gustika Jusuf-Hatta, granddaughter of the proclaimer Bung Hatta, and Andi Tarigan, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
The Indonesia Literacy Festival this year carries the theme #MembacaRepublik (#ReadingTheRepublic) and will take place throughout September–October 2026 in four major cities: Semarang, Jakarta, Kupang, and Palembang.
The Chairperson of the 2026 Indonesia Literacy Festival, Immanuel Victorian Naffi, emphasised that the expansion to four cities this year is a response to literacy access challenges and high public interest in regional areas.
“The series of events began in Semarang on 12 September at Gramedia Jalma Pandanaran, marked by the launch of the ‘Cerita Khatulistiwa’ book collection and a discussion,” he said.
The series will continue in Jakarta on 26–27 September at Urban Forest Cipete, followed by Kupang on 17–18 October, and will conclude in Palembang from 31 October to 1 November 2026.