Learning to Dive Deep
Tauhid Nur Azhar
The story of Prof Sarjiyo, a senior teacher at Gadjah Mada University who is illiterate and visually impaired, yet represents nearly all Indonesians, has been a great inspiration to us regarding the concepts of struggle, opportunity, and the perfect moment to redefine happiness.
Sarjiyo, or Sarjiya for the Javanese language, is an example of a deeply grateful person who, despite his struggles, never succumbed to disbelief.
His level of resilience is worth referencing and setting as a benchmark for us who are still fighting our battles.
As we reflect on ourselves, as suggested in the epilogue of the documentary “Terpejam untuk Melihat” (Squinting to See), do we see a small figure of Sarjiyo running in our minds?
Sarjiyo, who we often imagine as constantly carrying the burden of pain throughout his life.
Did he channel his anger towards the circumstances that marginalized him and his family, gaining energy from it? Perhaps, or perhaps not. Only he and God truly know.
Do you see a homunculus of yourself in the figure of Prof Sarjiyo in his childhood?
A small, bare-chested figure running joyfully, herding a cow towards the pen. A sudden smile appears when he sees the familiar landscape that he and the cow will pass by for a moment.
Perhaps what appears in our minds is a variety of other innocent figures. A child running among the noise of textile product vendors at Tanah Abang market. Or a person walking alone by the edge of a terraced rice field near the Bukit Barisan mountain range in Andalas. Or maybe we’ll find a figure of ourselves in the middle of the Masalembu sea waves while helping our parents look for Tuing Tuing fish, which is in high demand in Japan.
We have all been that small figure at some point. With families, parents, friends, relatives, and different environments. Some of us may not have parents, families, or friends, and are limited by the era and civilization that we can only measure with our bodies.
Many of us feel that our selves and life experiences are not in line with our perceptions and expectations. But do we realize that perhaps Prof Sarjiyo never denied his reality and chose to face it instead of denying and ignoring the truth that seems beyond our perception?
From his story, we also learn that there is a rational calculation that should be done happily as a natural response to the consequences of a decision that has been made. From a brief narrative on social media, when he continued his education to a higher level, his younger sibling stopped at high school. Perhaps there were economic considerations, but there may also be other reasons that we do not know or will never know.
Did Prof Sarjiyo’s mother, who sold gendhis, and his father, who worked as a Tobong Labor, feel that they were suffering and struggling? We cannot be sure. The same goes for Sarjiyo kecil. We never know the inner journey that later shapes a person’s life path. What we must know is our own inner journey and how we have managed it so far.
After the story of Prof Sarjiya on my social media, a video by Prof Rhenald Kasali about the Strawberry Generation followed. A generation that receives privileges due to the economic prosperity experienced by their parents. Various facilities and conveniences are associated with this generation. Until Prof Rhenald hypothesized that this generation will easily be hurt. Why? Because they are not trained to be resilient. They are perceived as weak in dealing with suffering. They are perceived as caring only about instant gratification. They are considered inconsistent and easily lose motivation.
Is that true? Empirical facts may show that. But we also need to ask ourselves, is it possible that the Strawberry Generation is indeed compatible with the times, requiring a sweet and sour balance for all stakeholders to coexist harmoniously?
What truly matters is the need to keep learning and adapting, not being afraid to explore. And equally important is appreciating our circumstances because only with a sense of gratitude can we optimize our potential and contribute meaningfully to our present existence.
