Sasindo – M. Irham Maolana, an Indonesian Literature student at Universitas Diponegoro, has once again secured an impressive achievement by winning 3rd Place in the International Poetry Writing Competition held as part of the Language and Literature Week organized by the Student Association of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret.
This annual competition, held in celebration of the National Language Month, opened registration on July 28 and ran through October 13, with winners announced on October 25, 2025. This year’s theme, “Multicultural Harmony,” invited participants to explore cultural diversity as a source of shared values, balance, and collective understanding.
Amid tight competition featuring participants from various regions and countries, Irham stood out through his poem titled “Sedulur Papat Limo Pancer.” Drawing inspiration from Javanese philosophy on humanity’s four metaphysical siblings—kakang kawah, getih, ari-ari, and puser—and the self as the central axis (pancer), the poem meditates on human connection with the universe. Through symbolic representations of water, fire, earth, and air, Irham’s work contemplates inner equilibrium and the meeting of different elements as a form of harmony.
The poem’s vivid imagery, consistent metaphors, and reflective depth strongly resonated with the competition’s multicultural theme, enabling it to pass the rigorous curation process.
The judging panel consisted of distinguished figures: Dr. Suhailee Sohnui, M.Pd. from Chiang Mai University, Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Nugeraheni Eko Wardani, M.Hum. from FKIP UNS, and young writer Eko Setyawan. They evaluated the poems based on four key aspects: originality, diction and linguistic style, coherence across lines and stanzas, and depth of meaning.
From this assessment, the winners were announced: Muhammad Nasrul Evendi (General Category) as 1st Place, Muhammad Ade Kurniawan (Wedar Jawi Institute) as 2nd Place, M. Irham Maolana (Universitas Diponegoro) as 3rd Place, and a special award granted to Bertha Sylvester Maingu from Tanzania.
Irham’s achievement marks not only an important milestone for him as a young writer but also showcases how local wisdom can meaningfully converse with global issues. Through “Sedulur Papat Limo Pancer,” Javanese philosophy is not merely preserved—it is transformed into poetic language that resonates with readers across cultures, reinforcing the essence of harmony amidst diversity.
Dr. Sukarjo Waluyo, S.S., M.Hum., Head of the Indonesian Literature Study Program at the Faculty of Humanities, Universitas Diponegoro, expressed his congratulations and pride in Irham’s accomplishment. He hopes that this achievement will inspire other students to participate actively in various activities within the Indonesian Literature Program.