Alumni and Academic Community of Indonesian Literature Unhas Hold Gathering at Kebun Denassa
MAKASSAR — The alumni and academic community of Indonesian Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB), Hasanuddin University (Unhas), are set to hold a gathering organized by the Alumni Association (IKA) at Kebun Denassa. The event will serve as a cross-generational meeting space to strengthen literary collaboration and reaffirm the role of language and literature in society.
Founder of Rumah Hijau Denassa (RHD), Darmawan Denassa, invited lecturers, students, and alumni of Indonesian Literature Unhas to build collaborative work through the gathering, scheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Kebun Denassa (Denassa Botanical Garden), Bontonompo District, Gowa Regency.
Darmawan conveyed the invitation during his visit to the Department of Indonesian Literature Unhas on Friday (January 9, 2026). He emphasized that his visit was not merely a courtesy call but also an effort to revive collective spirit and demonstrate the tangible contribution of literature to social life.
“I came to encourage, while reminding everyone that there are many things we can discover and accomplish together,” said the recipient of the 2021 Kalpataru Award in the Environmental Pioneer category.
As an alumnus of Indonesian Literature Unhas, Darmawan also highlighted the position of the Indonesian language, now spoken in more than 40 countries and ranked among the world’s top ten languages. He stressed that this achievement must be balanced with stronger documentation and contextual studies rooted in the environment.
On the occasion, he introduced the concept of the Denassa Language Garden, a learning space that integrates language, literature, and the environment by using plants as the primary medium of instruction.
“We use plants as sources and teaching media in a fun way. It’s not only about saving the plants but also preserving the stories behind them from sociological, ecological, and cultural perspectives,” he explained.
As an example, he mentioned the term gadungan, derived from the gadung plant, which illustrates the close relationship between language and environment. This approach, he noted, distinguishes Denassa from conventional botanical gardens.
Professor of Indonesian Literature Unhas, Prof. Dr. Munira Hasjim, S.S., M.Hum., assessed that activities at Denassa hold significant academic potential, particularly in documenting plant names from a linguistic perspective or agroponymy.
“There is much that students can do there, especially in recording plant names. This is academically very interesting,” she said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Department of Indonesian Literature FIB Unhas, Dr. Dra. Muslimat, M.Hum., emphasized that the gathering is not merely ceremonial.
“This is not just a recreational event, but it is expected to produce scientific documents directly related to the discipline of Indonesian language,” she affirmed.
Also present at the occasion were the Secretary of the Department of Indonesian Literature FIB Unhas, Dr. Indarwati, S.S., M.Hum.; Professor of Indonesian Literature FIB Unhas, Prof. Dr. AB. Takko Bandung, M.Hum.; Dr. Ikhwan M. Said, M.Hum.; Dr. St. Nursa'adah, S.S., M.Hum; Faisal Oddang, S.S., M.Hum.; Syahwan Alfianto Amir, S.S., M.Hum.; Ilham, S.S., M.Hum.; along with other lecturers, IMSI KMFIB Unhas administrators, and Indonesian Literature students.
(Nur Haliza and Alfira/*)