Rekindling the Flame of the Youth Pledge Amid the Identity Crisis of the Young Generation
On Tuesday afternoon, 28 October 2025, the atmosphere at the PPG Courtyard of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta felt different from the usual. The dimming sky did not dampen the enthusiasm of dozens of cadres who gathered for an important moment: commemorating the Youth Pledge in a more vibrant, reflective, and relevant way to today’s realities.
Carrying the theme ‘From Heroic Generation to Patriotic Generation: Rekindling the Flame of the Youth Pledge Amid the Identity Crisis of Youth’, the event initiated by cadres of Himpunan Mahasiswa Islam (HMI) Distrik PIPS was not merely an annual ceremony. It became a space for reflection that, amid the strong currents of globalisation, the identity crisis among the young generation is no longer just discourse but an increasingly tangible reality.
In an era where cultural boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred and local values are slowly eroding, the young generation faces a dilemma: becoming part of the modern world without losing their identity. This is where the event plays its role. Not in a rigid way, but through an approach close to the world of youth.
The event opened with chain poetry, a symbol that the voices of the generation are never singular but interconnected, mutually strengthening. Each stanza recited seemed to reflect anxieties as well as hopes for the future, about identity, about Indonesia.
Then, the regional dance performed served as a reminder that cultural roots are never truly lost, merely awaiting care to be nurtured again. Amid modernity, those traditional movements appeared as a subtle yet meaningful form of resistance.
It did not stop there; the critical orations delivered by the cadres stirred collective awareness. They did not only speak of the romanticism of history but also highlighted current realities, from the degradation of national values to the challenges of digitalisation shaping the mindset of the young generation.
Interestingly, the event was not entirely serious. The inserted stand-up comedy became an oasis, bringing intelligent laughter alongside sharp social critique. Meanwhile, the acoustic session at the end of the event bound all participants in an atmosphere of togetherness, affirming that struggle does not always have to be rigid but can be warm and meaningful.
More than just a series of events, this moment became a forum for weaving cadre development and strengthening ties among HMI Distrik PIPS cadres. Amid the social fragmentation that often occurs, spaces like this are important for maintaining solidarity and strengthening collective identity as the nation’s succeeding generation.
The overarching narrative to be conveyed is clear: the spirit of the Youth Pledge must not stop as historical text. It must continue to be enlivened, translated, and fought for in the context of ever-changing times.
From the heroic generation of 1928 that dared to pledge for one homeland, one nation, and one language, the baton now lies in the hands of the patriotic generation. A generation that not only remembers but also acts. A generation that is not only proud to be Indonesian but also dares to guard and nurture it.
And in the PPG Courtyard that afternoon, the flame lit nearly a century ago reignited. Not big, perhaps. But enough to illuminate the way home: home to the identity as Indonesian youth.