KBRN, Jakarta: Inayah Wulandari Wahid, the youngest daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid (popularly known as Gus Dur), has voiced her reservations about the various titles attributed to her father, saying they risk oversimplifying the meaning of his struggle.

Inayah acknowledged that Gus Dur received several awards that remain a source of pride for the family. Among them is the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award from the Philippines, which he received for his defense of democracy.

“This is definitely a source of pride,” she said during the RRI Pro3 podcast on Sunday, December 14, 2025.

However, she admitted she does not fully agree with the title “Father of Pluralism” often attached to Gus Dur. According to her, the struggle of Indonesia’s fourth president was far broader than pluralism alone.

During his 21 months in office, Gus Dur revoked Presidential Instruction No. 14/1967, which restricted Chinese religion, beliefs, and customs.

His decision paved the way for public celebrations of the Chinese New Year, which later became a national holiday. Through Presidential Decree No. 19/2001, he also lifted the ban on Chinese symbols and language, and recognized Confucianism as Indonesia’s sixth official religion.

“What Gus Dur fought for was not pluralism, but humanity. And humanity is indeed plural,” she said.

Inayah emphasized that pluralism was only a small part of the humanitarian values Gus Dur championed. She argued that the essence of his struggle lay in defending human dignity.

“So, I don’t really agree with labeling him the ‘Father of Pluralism,’” she added, noting that such a title risks diminishing the significance of his broader vision.

She further admitted that she has not entirely accepted Gus Dur’s designation as a national hero, saying the title is problematic because it is shared with figures she considers unworthy. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)