Gus Dur needs no title, Emha says

JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

JOMBANG: Support is abounding for recently deceased former president Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid to be given the title of national hero. But cultural observer Emha Ainun Nadjib thinks otherwise. Not in a negative way, though.

“It wasn’t something he needed, much less his family,” he was quoted by kapanlagi.com Wednesday.

Emha said Gus Dur was beyond official titles, or any titles for that matter. “For us, it’s more important that he’s a hero for all, rather than an official hero,” he said.

“Just look at us,” he went on. “We came all the way here [to Jombang, East Java] not because of his title, but because of his dedication to the good of all.”

— JP