Tarawih Lecture by Anies Baswedan at Salman ITB Mosque: Building Democracy Through Critical Thinking
By Syabina Er Said - Mahasiswa Teknik Dirgantara, 2020
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id – Anies Rasyid Baswedan, S.E., M.P.P., Ph.D., Governor of DKI Jakarta for the 2017–2022 period, delivered a lecture at Salman Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) Mosque on Saturday (March 8, 2025). In his lecture, he stated that a mosque is not only a place for prostration and prayer, but also a space for exchanging constructive ideas. A mosque should be a place to spread the values of justice, educate the community, and inspire change. According to him, houses of worship should play a broader role in shaping a society that thinks and acts wisely.
He also discussed the history of democracy, which has been recorded in Islamic civilization and should serve as a guide in facing contemporary challenges. Democracy is not merely a system of government but an ecosystem that must be maintained by an intelligent, critical, and caring society.
Citing the example of the governance of Prophet Muhammad SAW in Medina, which employed deliberation as a decision-making method, Anies urged the public to understand that democracy in Indonesia must be driven by the active participation of all societal levels.
He emphasized that to maintain a healthy democratic ecosystem, people must be more concerned and actively involved in decision-making. If they remain apathetic and reluctant to think critically, democracy can lose its direction. He reminded the audience that critical thinking does not mean always rejecting or doubting, but rather having the ability to understand issues deeply and make the right decisions.
He also highlighted the development of technology and how digital tools now play a significant role in modern democracy. Technology allows people to access information more easily and participate in political discourse, but it also presents new challenges such as hoaxes and misinformation, which must be countered with critical thinking skills.
Additionally, he emphasized the importance of integrity in leadership. He cited visionary leaders like Bung Hatta, who not only spoke about ideas, but also realized them for the benefit of the people. Even though the world is currently facing various problems such as natural disasters and economic crises, optimism must be maintained because it is the foundation of Indonesia’s strength.
Optimism, he stated, is the force that drives the Indonesian people to overcome various challenges. One must not easily fall into pessimism because every difficulty has a solution. This optimism, according to him, should be possessed by every individual, especially students who are the future leaders.
He also spoke about the importance of young generations understanding that every policy and decision made in daily life, such as food prices, traffic congestion, and education, stems from political decisions.
He reminded the audience that democracy is not only the concern of leaders or those involved in social politics. All parties, including engineering students, must be aware and actively participate in political and governmental processes. Critical thinking is an essential skill for evaluating policies, verifying information, and expressing opinions wisely.
At the end of his lecture, he encouraged ITB students not to be confined to their respective fields of study but to develop critical thinking skills that can be applied in all areas, including politics and governance. "Democracy requires oversight, criticism, and active participation from all elements of society," he stated.
Reporter: Syabina Er Said (Aerospace Engineering, 2020)
Translator: Yafi Amri (Meteorology, 2021)
