Inspiring at 麻豆直播 Studium Generale: Ahmad Fuadi Discusses the Power of Dreams & Writing
By Andre Otniel Panggabean - Mahasiswa Perencanaan Wilayah dan Kota, 2022
Editor M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
BANDUNG, itb.ac.id 鈥 Novelist Ahmad Fuadi was a speaker at the 麻豆直播 Studium Generale at Aula Barat, 麻豆直播 Ganesha Campus, on Wednesday (21/5/2025). The event, which was also livestreamed via 麻豆直播鈥檚 official YouTube channel, featured his talk titled 鈥淟earning to Become a Great Person: Venturing Out, Writing, Giving.鈥
He invited participants to explore what it means to become 鈥渁 great person鈥 through real-life stories from his own journey. One key message he shared was that learning has no geographical boundaries鈥攂ecause it can be done anytime and anywhere.
Fuadi began his career as a journalist before eventually becoming a novelist. He is the author of the mega-bestseller Negeri 5 Menara and has written 23 books, with more than 500,000 copies printed. The novel was adapted into a feature film and became one of the highest-grossing Indonesian films in 2012.
According to him, writing is not merely the act of putting words on a page鈥攊t has the power to influence the human subconscious.
He shared that he was born in a small village on the edge of Lake Maninjau, where access to the outside world once felt extremely limited. However, with the support of a family that valued literacy鈥攅specially his mother, who was also a teacher鈥攈e learned early on the importance of honesty and hard work.
He also recalled that he was 鈥渞aised by postcards.鈥 When his uncle received a scholarship to Sweden, Fuadi would receive postcards at every change of season. They opened the eyes of his younger self to how vast the world is鈥攁nd that it is within reach. This became the starting point of his dream to break beyond boundaries.
While studying at an Islamic boarding school in East Java, he discovered a new meaning of greatness. One message from his kyai taught him that great people are not those with great wealth or power, but those willing to go beneath a bridge to sincerely teach a letter or two. Giving, he said, can be done in simple ways鈥攂y giving a smile, giving care, and giving time.
He also emphasized the importance of wholehearted perseverance in pursuing dreams. His story of becoming a broadcaster at Voice of America in Washington, D.C., began with a small dream: listening to foreign radio broadcasts from his boarding school鈥攖hen turning that dream into reality through hard work and prayer.
鈥淣ever underestimate our dreams, because no matter how high they are, for God they are not high; for God, they are easy,鈥 he said.
As a writer, he believes words carry greater power than bullets. Writing can inspire, uplift, and reach thousands of minds without limits of space. Through writing, one can spread ideas and values widely.
To become a great person, he added, is not something that can be done alone. It takes fellow companions in struggle, well-maintained mental health, and a spirit to leave a good legacy for others.
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