Semarang — The Master’s Program in Literary Studies at the Faculty of Humanities (FIB), Diponegoro University, reaffirmed its commitment to academic enrichment and internationalization through the Visiting Professor program held on Friday, May 9, 2025. This academic event carried the theme “Adaptation of Wayang Character in Literary Words” and featured international guest speaker Dr. Gautam Kumar Jha from Jawaharlal Nehru University, India.
The event was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Dr. Alamsyah, M.Hum., who in his remarks emphasized that activities like this serve as vital bridges to enrich cross-cultural understanding, particularly in the fields of literature and culture. “Wayang, as part of the cultural heritage of the Nusantara, holds deep philosophical values that remain highly relevant when adapted into global literary works,” he stated.
During the main session, Dr. Gautam Kumar Jha presented various approaches to adapting wayang characters into modern literary works. He also compared the representation of epic characters in Indian and Indonesian cultures, creating a rich space for cross-cultural perspectives. According to him, wayang is not merely a traditional performance, but also a living literary inspiration that remains relevant in contemporary contexts.
This event was enthusiastically attended by all students of the Master’s Program in Literary Studies at UNDIP, along with members of the public from various countries, including Indonesia, India, Malaysia, China, Singapore, and Korea. The participation of international audiences reflected the strong interest in topics that explore local culture through a global academic lens.
Serving as moderator was Nur Khasanatun Ni’mah, S.Pd., a graduate student of Literary Studies at UNDIP, who guided the session energetically and interactively. The discussion ran dynamically, starting with a presentation and followed by a Q&A session that explored issues such as cultural preservation, character adaptation strategies, and audience reception across different countries.
This Visiting Professor program is part of the internationalization agenda of the FIB UNDIP graduate program, which consistently strives to create academic collaborations across borders. More than just a knowledge-sharing forum, this event also strengthened cultural ties between Indonesia and its international partners. The discussion was also streamed live on YouTube via the following link.
Through this event, it is hoped that students and academics will be increasingly motivated to explore and develop the richness of Nusantara culture in globally competitive literary studies.
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