Prabowo Celebrates National Santri Day: Santri Are an Important Part of Indonesia's History

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - President Prabowo Subianto delivered his greetings for National Santri Day 2026, which falls on Thursday (22/10/2026).

This message was conveyed during his speech at the opening of the National Coordination Meeting (Rakornas) of the Regional Financial Access Acceleration Team (TPAKD) at JIExpo, Jakarta, on Thursday (22/10/2026).

"I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy National Santri Day, October 22, 2026," Prabowo stated during his speech.

He emphasized that santri and pesantren are significant parts of Indonesia's historical journey and struggle.

"Santri, both male and female, along with pesantren, have played an essential role in the history of Indonesia's struggle for independence. United and strong, santri make Indonesia even more resilient," said Prabowo.

Previously, Head of the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) RI, Syahganda Nainggolan, stated that Prabowo is committed to the pesantren community.

"In the Red and White Cabinet led by President Prabowo, there are also many ministers with a pesantren background, which clearly demonstrates a commitment to the pesantren community and its santri," Syahganda remarked in a press release on Thursday.

Syahganda pointed out that this illustrates Prabowo's commitment to opening opportunities for pesantren graduates to contribute more broadly to national development.

Moreover, Syahganda noted that the government’s support for santri and pesantren is also reflected in the strengthening of pesantren institutions within the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

He elaborated that the establishment of the Directorate General of Pesantren is a crucial step in positioning pesantren in a more strategic role.

"President Prabowo has shown significant attention to santri and pesantren. For the first time in this government, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has a Directorate General of Pesantren. This certainly elevates pesantren to a more strategic level in the development of Indonesia's future human resources," he explained.

Syahganda believes that pesantren are more than just religious educational institutions; they also play a vital role in fostering unity, nurturing tolerance, and shaping community character.

According to Syahganda, this contribution is part of the long journey of pesantren in accompanying the nation's life, representing a crucial asset for facing Indonesia's future.

"On behalf of the wider family of the Government Communication Agency RI, I wish you a Happy National Santri Day. Thank you for the tangible contributions of the santri and pesantren in upholding the integrity of the nation, nurturing tolerance, and advancing Indonesia. With the commitment and support of Mr. President, we believe that pesantren will be the backbone of a new Indonesian civilization in the future," said Syahganda.