BANDA ACEH, BBG NEWS – Indonesian Reading Ambassador Heri Hendrayana Harris, better known as Gol A Gong, delivered a public lecture at Bina Bangsa Getsempena University (UBBG) on practical writing tips under the theme “Reading Is Healthy, Writing Is Great” on Friday, October 6, 2023, at the UBBG Mini Hall. The event, organized by the UBBG Library, was attended by 90 participants, including professors, undergraduate and graduate students from UBBG.
The opening remarks and welcome from UBBG’s rector were delivered by Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs and Innovation, Dr. Rita Novita, M.Pd. She highlighted the valuable insights that the guest speaker, Gol A Gong, would provide and emphasized the importance of reading for writing. She stated, “Students cannot write if they do not read, so reading is essential for writing, and I hope that the participants will absorb the knowledge shared by the speaker.”
The event, moderated by Regina Rahmi, M.Pd., encouraged participants to make the most of their time, listen attentively, and ask questions directly to Indonesian Reading Ambassador Gol A Gong. This was a rare opportunity for them to meet a renowned author and literary figure.
Gol A Gong, in his presentation as the Indonesian Reading Ambassador, emphasized his responsibility to promote literacy across Indonesia through literary tours in various regions to educate the public about the importance of literacy through reading. He coined the slogan, “Reading is healthy, writing is great.” He encouraged UBBG students not to hesitate to visit the library, even suggesting that if there were 10,000 collections in the UBBG library, they should aim to read at least 1,000 of them. He stressed that writing cannot be done in isolation while daydreaming but requires reading and writing about what one reads, as he himself mentioned in his novel, “Balada si Roy.”
The Indonesian literary figure, who has authored 125 books, also emphasized the need for concrete data in writing by conducting direct research on the subject matter. He highlighted the importance of focus and diligence, sharing, “I was inspired by the first revelation of the Qur’an, Al-‘Alaq, which means ‘read.’ From there, I was inspired to read and write. Through writing, we can explore the world.”
Ashabul Kahfi, S.IP., Head of the UBBG Library, separately expressed gratitude to Dr. Nazaruddin Musa M.Lis and Dr. Rahmad Syahputra, the Chairman and Secretary of the Indonesian Librarians Association Aceh Province, for facilitating the successful execution of the event. He credited the cohesive efforts of the UBBG library team, including Iza Fajri, S.IP., M.MLS, and Ade Nufus, S.IP., M.A., for the event’s successful organization.
The event concluded with the presentation of mementos by Dr. Rita Novita, M.Pd., to Gol A Gong and a group photo featuring the speaker and all participants.
