Graduation Speech by my husband

Thank you so much; it is really a tremendous honor for me to stand before you, all the distinguished ladies and gentlemen. Allow me to extend my warm greeting to the rector council, professors and all faculty members of WU, His excellency Indonesian ambassador to Austria, family, friends, guests, and of course the very reason of our presence today: the fellow doctoral graduates of March 2011.

Dear my fellow graduates,
I know we are here to celebrate our achievement for our doctoral degree, but let’s take a moment for a while to thank the unspoken heroes of today: our families, parents, husband or wife, brothers or sisters. These are the people who always believe in us, people who are willing to listen to all our problems, our complaints and difficulties. These people are our family whose love and care always encourage us in each and every day. I believe today is not only our own day. This day is theirs too…

So let’s give our warm applause to all of our families.
Unfortunately, my parents aren’t able to come here, as for myself, the journey for being here is much more than taking 10.000 kilometers flight across three great oceans. I remember 3.5 years ago, when I stepped in to this building, I was haunted with deep anxiety and uncertainty. I knew that I have to cope with different languages, different food, different people with different values and different way of thinking. At that time, I wasn’t sure if I could survive another 3 or 4 years to come to finish my PhD.

But today, I must appreciate the tireless effort from all employees and faculty members at WU who helped me throughout the difficult process. Thanks to the commitment from the rector council for increasing the internationality of this university. The number of international students, international partners, and international faculty members are increasing year by year. The ratio of the international faculty will reach to 30 %, and the number of international students has passed to a quarter, which means that every fourth student you meet here is from abroad.

During my study here, I also witness a great transformation of this university. This institution has transformed from a Viennese college of economic and business administration, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, into a World-class University, abbreviated as W-U.

So I think we are here today, not only to celebrate our achievement for winning a PhD, but also to sustain an example of the possible success of world class school which holds the spirit of professionalism and equality. Here, we’re showing to break free the tiring debate about race, religion, ethnicity and gender that dominates our politics and newspaper in the last decade.
I’m coming from a third world country called Indonesia. I was born in a very small village, which was no electricity and running clean water; more than half of the people in the village earn less than 1 euro per day. My parents are only medium class civil servants, who never even dared to dream sending their son to study abroad. It’s finally Professor Wolfgang Obenaus who convinced me to come to this prestigious university, in the heart of Europe, using the scholarship from the Austrian government for third world countries.

I am also glad that finally I am allowed to wear ‘Batik’, our traditional clothes today, as I always believe that the graduation committee will embrace diversity. Because they also hold the value of our university, that the single most important factor determining people achievement is not the color of their skin, the religion of their life, it is not who their parents are, or how much money they have. I believe the promise of the education system here. No matter how we look like, whatever our nationality is, or our religion, each of us, should have the chance to achieve our dream, to enjoy the same opportunity.

Dear fellow graduates,
We know that we’re living in a global era. It’s the time where people in Vienna are also competing with people in Shanghai or Mumbai, India. Jobs can be located anywhere in this planet. It’s finally our skill and knowledge that become our global passport. The most valuable things you can sell are skill and knowledge.

Living in this globalization era should make us aware that we are breathing in the same global village. In this village, every belief and value can be found. Insignificant differences can spark into conflict, chaos even war. But I’m sure that everybody in this room won’t let this happen. Because, despite these differences, we share the same hope, same belief that we are connected together as brother and sister from the past.

Driven by this belief, I am also calling on you to be an agent of transformation, who always seeks to make this world a better place to live, a safer place for diversity; as being shown by the great transformation of this university.
Within these few weeks I am flying back to Indonesia…

I’m a Moslem and I will speak loud and clear to the people in my country that I am proud to be part of this great European education institution; where I do not learn about business and economics only, but also about tolerance and respecting each other.

Sooner or later you will also make your own journey. For some of you, the journey ahead will not be easy. But the truth is that none of us knows how the future will look like. What I can tell you for sure is that the future is not someplace we will discover, but rather something we will create.

I believe that we can survive anywhere in this world, because we are the graduates of WU. We were trained with high international standard, by global-minded faculties which hold the spirit of professionalism and tolerance.

Today, we are all proud to receive our doctorate certificate, a reward for our effort that we will treasure for the rest of our life.
But as a famous saying says: the greatest treasures are not those visible to the eye but found by the heart. Knowledge and happiness are the true treasure for a wise man; indeed, tolerance is the real treasure for humanity.

It is my sincere hope that your next journey will take you to the summit of your hope, to the highest peak of your happiness, to the ultimate blessing for humanity.

Again congratulation, have a pleasant journey, and may God always be with us
Thank you.


Vienna, 11th March 2011
Rangga Almahendra

My thanks to ibu and bapak for showing me the good and the bad

Hi my dear readers.. it's been like ages having no blog updates. Yeah, now I come back after long boringly break.. This may be the effect of sort of fatigue after writing my first book and therefore I still have no idea nor inspiration what to write on this blog.
However, today as I did some internet browsing, primarily facebook and my tweet, for sure:-), by chance I looked at one of my friend's status read: ''on story of Luna-Ariel, thanks to my parents to teach me what good and bad in life''. This notion suddenly brings me back to the adultery case involving three leading Indonesian celebrities, Luna Maya and Ariel Peterpan, and of course Cut Tari about 3 months back. To some extent I try to digest what my friend had to say. He might regard his gratitude to his parents for letting him know which one supposed to be done, and not to, which one is socially correct and incorrect, leading his way on a right track, on a well-courteous mannered life thus he didn't end up like those three socialites-cursed and blown away from the celebrityhood just that way ( My fingers click :) ).
I won't share my opinion about the pros and cons of one's private life, but since the racy videos circulated publicly- even if these three celebs leave this world forever, the videos stand there on internet- those inevitably belongs to public's property. Let the authority judge who's to blame for.
My position here is to review what I can take away from that event.
I just board on the same boat as that Facebookfriend, indeed. My parents are so religious people from the day they were born. They taught me very strict on various things, but as I said in my book, strict but not grab their kids on a handful grasp.
I recalled this moment when I was watching TV commercial showing a woman in a bathtub rubbing her skin as she said ''wishing to have smooth skin like mine?... use this soap''... well something like that. And my mother was abruptly saying to me '' I hope you don't come up with any idea to become like her''... I smiled. In fact, I just filled out a form to contest in Gadis Sampul, a yearly teenage beauty pageant competition organized by Majalah Gadis. As a young and immature, my mind was easily set by the instant success, fame, money, etc. My mom and dad were aware of that. That's why they sent me to Islamic based schools, Muhammadiyah early on, so that I and my siblings know which good and bad upbringing are, wide open my eyes that the true good can be also twisted to bad and the bad can be treated and accepted as good in this living and growing society. That very moment I backed out from the contest. I was ashamed to picture me dressing with shorts, skirts, or topless clothes and getting scored for that by the juries.
Now, I feel grateful to God for giving me such wise parents. At that time, I've never acknowledged what my parents had done to us as wise parenthood. They said very often 'NO, NO, NO' the do's and the don'ts kept coming by my ears. But the great idea from this is, I know the border of good and bad precisely. However, after I turned eighteenth or so, they had never been that strict anymore. They knew that we were already grown up and could think exactly what good for us. It's like what my friend says: ''My mother kept telling me that pacaran/dating is not good, it's forbidden in Islam and bla bla bla.. Then one day her mom said, ''I allow you to get to know your boyfriend each other in more closely way. But I would you not rather do that too far''. So that's it. The creation of barrier of good and bad must be established from early on, then let your kids formulate it and translate it on their own when they're quite grown up. This clear border will result the character and dignity foundation.
Again, not to judge these three celebrities, in my eyes, they 're just merely very late to find out what the good and the bad for them. In one of talking head with an infotainment on her love relationship with Ariel which likely to end in marriage , as far as I can recall, Luna once said : ''Obviously I would not get married that soon.. Look, I am just 26 years old, I got career, and everything, I can't imagine how would I be with that stick (referring wooden stick for elderly) walking around and taking care my kids? oh no.. I still want to release my entire being, and marriage is not the answer''. In other door stop with reporters again she said: ''Why is that, these people are so fussy about my life? Can't they simply shut their mind and mouth to what I do, just like in Hollywood or so..'' Her gesture suggests she doesn't even realize living and laboring in Indonesia, not in America, I can tell you..
It seems now she has to swallow the bitterness of her own words. The sex scandal sparked in both mainstream and social media, and gaining much attention across Indonesia even making great headline in Austria, I suppose, and rank on top twitter trending one time. In average, most people show regret, unfavorably to their act considered violating the decency and social norms. Right then, I must say, and am happy to jump into this conclusion, most Indonesians are still holding the good and step aside the bad, not fooled by those who twist these two opposites into their own term.
Therefore, I just want to say thank you again and again to my parents, terimakasih ibu dan bapak for the never ending love and sincere affection. Frankly saying, I fear to embrace the new era ahead, when moms and dads, so are for me and my hubby, whom I believe will discover more challenges to separate the good and bad for their kids in this modern yet more orderless world.

RESENSI BUKU: BELAJAR DARI KELUARGA AMIEN RAIS

BANYAK buku yang ditulis orang tentang Amien Rais yang pernah menjadi news maker bahkan dijuluki the king maker. Buku mengenai sepak terjang dalam pentas politik nasional maupun menyangkut kehidupan pribadi dan keluarganya. Tetapi kehadiran buku yang ditulis oleh orang yang dekat, bergaul dengan sang tokoh sejak lahir dan merasakan suka duka bersamanya, akan terasa sangat istimewa. Seperti yang dituturkan putri kedua Amien Rais, Hanum Salsabiela Rais dalam buku ini.

Hanum melihat ayahnya sebagai sosok yang patut diteladani bagi dirinya dan orang lain. Amien Rais menjadi sumber inspirasi bagi Hanum, bukan hanya karena pencapaian akademis dan politiknya, tetapi orientasi hidup dan pola pikirnya yang mencerminkan penghayatan keagamaan secara mendalam. Keluarga menjadi titik awal dan akhir dalam melangkah. Meskipun kesibukan kerja mengharuskan Amien Rais kerap meninggalkan keluarga, tetapi peran keluarga sangat signifikan. Restu orangtua dan dukungan istri dan anak menjadi daya dorong terpenting. Dicontohkan Amien Rais menolak tawaran menjadi calon presiden pada tahun 1999 saat tokoh-tokoh nasional mendukung sebab ibunya tidak mengizinkan.

Meski tidak hidup bergelimang kemewahan, keluarga Amien Rais sangat concern terhadap pendidikan putra-putrinya. Salah satunya tradisi membaca yang sangat kuat berikut penekanan pada penguasaan bahasa asing di keluarganya. Perhatian juga diberikan pada pembentukan karakter, kemandirian dan konsistensi. Putra-putri dibiarkan hidup mandiri, diajarkan kesulitan hidup, mencoba hal-hal baru dan berbuat kesalahan, membuat keputusan dan bertanggung jawab pada pilihan yang diambil. (hal 53-58).

Bagian terbesar penuturan Hanum pada perjuangan Amien Rais seputar perjuangan menjelang reformasi 1998 kemudian saat menjabat Ketua MPR RI (1999-2004) dan dilanjutkan saat pencalonan presiden 2004. Semangat amar ma'ruf nahi munkar menjiwai keberanian Amien Rais menggulirkan isu suksesi kepemimpinan berhadapan rezim Soeharto, bahkan juga dalam mengkritisi isu-isu nasional yang sensitif, kebijakan pemerintah dan tatanan global dunia. Amien juga mengajarkan keteguhan dan optimisme dalam meraih cita-cita saat mengajukan diri (diajukan) sebagai calon presiden 2004. Saat kegagalan yang terjadi dia menerima dengan kebesaran hati, legawa dan tawakal. Amien-lah yang paling awal mengumumkan kekalahannya dan mengucapkan selamat pada pemenang pilpres.

Masih banyak sisi kehidupan dari sosok Amien Rais sebagai pribadi, kepala keluarga, maupun pemimpin masyarakat yang coba dikupas menurut persepsi sang putrinya. Sisi kemanusiaan Amien Rais dikupas sewajarnya dengan kelebihan dan kekurangannya, kebahagiaan dan kesedihannya, tanpa perlu memujanya sebagai idola. Bagi mereka yang tidak suka dengan Amien Rais dengan membaca buku ini akan tahu gambaran yang sebenarnya tanpa perlu pembelaan, bahkan mungkin berbalik mencintai tokoh ini.

Hanum Salsabiela Rais adalah lulusan kedokteran gigi yang tertarik dunia jurnalistik televisi. Saat buku ini diterbitkan dia masih di Vienna Austria mengikuti studi suaminya. Mungkin karena sudah terasah ketrampilannya dalam dunia yang digeluti, gaya bahasa Hanum enak diikuti, ringan tetapi berbobot dan tidak ada kata yang sia-sia. Sebuah seni yang dikuasai dan menjadi salah satu kelebihannya sebagaimana ayahnya juga mempunyai ketrampilan dalam menulis dan berbicara yang lugas dan bermutu. Begitu banyak pelajaran yang dapat kita peroleh dari buku ini, yang menjadikan kita lebih bijak. Sayang bila kehadiran buku ini dilewatkan begitu saja. q - g

(A Asranur Arifin, penikmat buku tinggal di Sleman)


Dimuat di Harian Kedaulatan Rakyat Minggu tanggal 30 Mei 2010
http://www.kr.co.id/web/de tail.php?sid=216836&actmen u=45

Talk Show, Apa Kabar Indonesia Minggu, TV ONE

Pada Minggu, 16 Mei 2010, kembali Hanum Salsabiela Rais mendapatkan undangan diskusi buku, kali ini dari program TV ONE Apa Kabar Indonesia Akhir Pekan, dalam segmen Resensi Buku. Acara resensi ini kembali menghadirkan Drajat Wibowo sebagai penanggap. Melalui line telepon, Amien Rais juga bertelewicara selama satu segmen. Selain mengupas tentang buku Menapak Jejak Amien Rais: Persembahan Seorang Putri untuk Ayah Tercinta, obrolan di pagi hari ini juga menjadi ajang reuni Hanum dengan para koleganya di stasiun TV dulu, diantaranya Tina Talisa dan Bagus Priambodo yang kini bekerja di TV ONE

SINOPSIS BUKU

Amien Rais, ayah saya, tak bisa dipungkiri adalah sosok yang sering mengundang pro dan kontra di masyarakat, baik karena kritikan maupun pernyataaanya. Tidak mudah memahami pemikiran seorang Amien Rais, yang terkadang jauh mendahului jaman. Sebagai contoh ketika bapak, melontarkan ide suksesi pada tahun 1993 yang membuat Orde Baru meradang.


Buku ini lahir bukan untuk memberikan pembelaan, meluruskan atau membenarkan bagaimana sepak terjang seorang Amien Rais di kancah politik. Buku ini ringan bercerita tentang kisah kisah inspiratif dibalik panggung politik Amien Rais.


Dari cerita yang berasal dari diskusi meja makan, di mushola setelah sholat bersama, didepan televisi, ataupun saat berada dalam mobil bersama dalam sebuah perjalanan, saya tahu Bapak masih punya banyak impian besar untuk bangsa ini yang belum tertuntaskan.

Bagi saya, hari hari bersama bapak adalah hari yang berharga. Seolah memperoleh untaian emas setiap waktu bersama bapak, rasanya tak adil jika saya menyimpannya untuk diri sendiri. Melalui buku inilah saya ingin berbagi cerita kepada para pembaca dibalik sosok Amien Rais yang vokal namun bersahaja.

Bukan untuk menunjukkan kualitasnya sebagai pemimpin, tapi untuk bercerita ketauladanan dari keseharian Amien Rais sebagai pemimpin keluarga yang sangat saya kagumi.

I Miss You, Daddy..

When i'm writing this little piece of my mind, I'm dropping tears away. This morning I browsed up some latest Indonesian news on an online site, and I happened to find a picture, a picture of a figure I miss so much. He seems somebody I fail to think of, forget about, during I reside here in Vienna. It's bapak, that's the way I call my beloved father. He looks very pale in that picture, but still the face has its strength to bring up his appearance, the never changed one I  believe. Bapak, if you happened to read this writing, I'd like you to know how much I miss you dearly, bapak. Time to time, a journey after another you passed by , you remain unchanged as you used to be. Despite the phony many time challenged you, you keep your name, amien rais, attached yourself as the name meant to be. Ich bin stolz auf dich, Vater. I'm proud of you, Bapak. Knowing that there are still a lot of people out there doubt your integrity and truthfulness to this nation, sometimes makes me greatly down. But as you once told me this saying; " every battle against the badness for the sake of the good, takes a never ending journey , even more so takes up the whole lifetime ". And this is what you are working on now, forward and always forward, go catching every drop of hope. A hope for the national sovereignty.

Dear all of you, at times little do we, his sons and daughters, think what he has done worthwhile for the country since numbers of negative response bounce back. Long long way has he gone through, but all in vain. Even so, I once grumbled about this awry decision he made, countless time, and asked him to give no more damn to this country. Yet he declined, he said what he's working on is not merely being on top, nor chasing a victory of all, nor even a leader of others, but a journey of endeavors. To me, this mindset seems still, a worthless one, as I'm but a young girl with lack knowledge beyond. However, I wish I could reach out the way he thinks, in fact, he's really a traveller, of a never ending story. Love you, Bapak. 

Death Sentence

The news of the imminent death penalty for the two Sumiarsih and Sugeng, mother and son have put me in a feeling like heading to the same thing. I sort of project my self to become like the two convicts who seemingly to meet their last terminal that draws nearer and nearer. Well, it sort of drives me these recent days. I'm so eager for their updated news time to time on an online web. How could human beings deal with their own death which they know it beforehand completely with the exact time, date and minute? My teacher teaching the religion subject in SMA once told me that naturally we experience the small death everyday during sleep. Only the hurt we don't suffer from the small death since the real death itself takes the most painful thing in one's life than any, even the most honorable and noble prophet Muhammad suffered from the death when the angle sorrowfully had to take the prophet's being. Death is not a matter of going away and disappear from the blatant world. Death naturally arrives at any time and any where, can't not be expected and predicted. That only God the Almighty owns the privilege. All we should do is none but solely doing good deeds and piety to others in our whole lifetime so that we are prepared as the eternity comes upon. More or less, this issue of death sentence has sparked me a new bearing. I have to be better and better ahead, in terms of everything but good. Truly saying, if I might bargain, I would like God not to take my life at this moment since I have got still fewer savings, and therefore in the rest of my life, I'd deposit more and more good endeavor to my life account. May God watch over me and keep shielding me from being a sinner. Amiiieeeen...