[fib.unsoed.ac.id/, Sunday, May 29, 2022] The S1 Sastra Indonesia Study Programme, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman held a guest lecturer class entitled “Stories of Old Banyumas City and Purwokerto: Getting Acquainted with Heritage Buildings” on Friday (27/5/2022) in hybrid format (in-person and online). The class focused on the theme of ‘local cultural heritage to foster awareness, remembrance, preservation, and conservation of heritage in Banyumas, including through historical buildings’.
The class was attended not only by students from the Sastra Indonesia study programme, but also by academics from Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Unsoed from various study programmes. It was led by Jatmiko Wicaksono, M.Sn., founder of the Komunitas Sejarah dan Warisan Banjoemas and member of the Bimtek Permuseuman Jawa Tengah.
In his presentation, the speaker briefly discussed the history of Banyumas, its merger with Purwokerto, historical buildings in Banyumas, and the roles that society could take in preserving these historical buildings.
Discussion with the participants was conducted in a relaxed and casual manner. From various questions raised, the speaker explained, among other points, that interest in history could continue to be developed through curiosity. History approached at a smaller scale and at the local level might be more interesting than grand, didactic, and tedious history.
At the end of the class, Jatmiko Wicaksono advised participants to begin preserving history at a small scale, starting within the family environment by maintaining records, genealogies, letters, certificates, and other documents. This is easier to do before committing to preserving history at a larger scale at the community level, such as managing heritage sites or museums.