Alumni and Academic Community of Indonesian Literature FIB Unhas Gather at Denassa Garden
GOWA – Alumni and the academic community of Indonesian Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Hasanuddin University (Unhas), held a gathering at Denassa Garden, Bontonompo District, Gowa Regency, on Saturday (January 17, 2026). This cross-generational meeting became a space for literacy collaboration as well as an occasion to strengthen academic networks.
Present at the event were Dean of FIB Unhas Prof. Andi Muhammad Akhmar; Head of the Department of Indonesian Literature, Muslimat; Department Secretary, Indarwati; as well as several professors, including Prof. Nurhayati, Prof. AB Takko, Prof. Munira Hasjim, and Prof. Kaharuddin. Also joining were Chairman of the Indonesian Literature Alumni Association M. Nawir, former IMSI Chairman and former Chairman of the Gowa Election Commission Muhtar Muis, Director of Perusda Maros Saharuddin Ridwan, IMSI Chairman Zaki, along with other lecturers and alumni.
A Space for Collaboration
Founder of Rumah Hijau Denassa (RHD), Darmawan Denassa, deliberately invited lecturers, students, and alumni of Indonesian Literature to gather at Denassa Botanical Garden (DBG). His purpose was simple yet meaningful: to build collaborative work between academics and alumni.
As an alumnus of Indonesian Literature, Darmawan explained that his experience studying in the department shaped him into someone who is now actively engaged in conservation. Since 2007, he has pioneered RHD on land that was once a brick excavation site. In 2020, he expanded the conservation area into Denassa Botanical Garden, previously known as Sawahku.
Unlike other conservation areas, visitors at Denassa Garden not only enjoy the green atmosphere but also learn through stories told directly by Darmawan. The plant collections on the land are named in various languages, reflecting cultural richness. To date, Denassa Garden has been visited by tourists from more than 60 countries.
Darmawan also emphasized the importance of the Indonesian language, which has now become the 8th largest language in the world and is studied in 47 countries. “Indonesian is different from Malay, although they share the same roots. Indonesian has developed remarkably with rich variations,” said the recipient of the 2021 Kalpataru Award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Looking ahead, he plans to develop thematic gardens based on language, ranging from aromatic plants, natural dyes, boat materials, provincial emblem plants, to plants for carving arts.
In addition, visitors are encouraged to bring healthy meals made from local food without single-use plastic containers. The area is also smoke-free.
Participants of the gathering were invited to tour and introduced to biodiversity, from food crops, medicinal plants, cosmetics, to plants used in traditional rituals. A traditional feast was served on banana leaves, featuring red rice, clear vegetable soup, dried fish, and a distinctive chili sauce. (*)