Barefoot Women and the Voice of a Wounded Nation at TIM Jakarta
JAKARTA-JAYA NEWS.COM – The launch of a book by Prof. Dr. Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, entitled “From the Dream of Civilization to the Birth of a Conscious Nation” was held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Theater Building, Jakarta, starting at 16.00 WIB to 18.30 WIB, witnessing a historical moment in the intellectual and national landscape of Indonesia.
On a stage shrouded in theatrical nuances and full of symbolism, the latest book by Prof. Dr. Connie Rahakundini Bakrie entitled “From the Dream of Civilization to the Birth of a Conscious Nation” was born.
This book is not just a collection of ideas. It is the cry of conscience, anxiety, and intellectual rebellion of Connie against the fate of a nation that has not moved from its slump. In an atmosphere full of emotion and reflection, national figures from various backgrounds were present: academics, politicians, activists, and thinkers.
Among the honored guests, also present were envoys of Syaykh Al Zaytun—Datuk Sir Imam Prawoto, KRSS, MBA, CRBC, and Dr. Ali Aminulloh, S.Ag., M.Pd.I., ME—who occupied the VVIP seats as a form of respect for their contributions to the intellectual struggle of the nation.
Big names also enlivened this event, including Prof. Jimly Asshiddiqie, Anies Baswedan, Rieke Diah Pitaloka, Refly Harun, and a number of other figures.
The event opened with the heartbreaking song “Indonesia Pusaka”, followed by a poetry reading by Jordan, the host, which described the spirit of Connie’s resistance to injustice and the chaos of the nation.
Theater of Thought and Courage of a Connie
A stage curtain slowly opened. An elegant woman, wearing a black kebaya, stood upright in the middle of the stage barefoot. Around her lay a pile of white cloth like a shroud, surrounded by dead candles. She is Connie. Through a theatrical reading style, she recited verses of her book with emotional emphasis on certain sentences—voicing wounds, hopes, and courage.
When Jordan asked why she was not wearing shoes, Connie answered bluntly, “So that we are grounded.” A simple answer that contained deep meaning. So, Jordan took off his shoes, followed by all the speakers who appeared after him. A symbolic gesture that in the thinking room, all are equal.
General (ret.) Prof. Hendropriyono opened the response session. He highlighted Connie’s courage, which was able to penetrate the walls of a superpower like Russia and was even trusted by President Vladimir Putin. Puti Guntur Soekarno highlighted two key words in this book: “civilized” and “conscious.”
Akbar Faizal called Connie a woman without a vein of fear. He recalled when Connie appeared on his podcast discussing the sensitive issue of the national defense budget of IDR 1,760 trillion.
Meanwhile, Soraya Haque, a doctor of forensic law, assessed that politics had made this country noisy.
“The most honest is a corpse,” he said. But Connie’s book, he said, was able to awaken the soul of a nation that was almost dead.
As the last respondent, Rocky Gerung called himself a “forensic philosopher,” differentiating himself from Soraya who was a “forensic doctor.”
“If a forensic doctor makes a corpse talk, a forensic philosopher questions why living people can’t talk,” he said. He praised Connie as an “unstoppable” woman in a world that often silences women’s voices.
Epilogue: A Silent Call That Shakes Awareness
Before the event closed, one special respondent highlighted the environmental damage caused by brutal mining exploitation. A reminder that national awareness must also include ecological awareness.
As a form of appreciation, the author gave Jepara carvings to the respondents and Jordan as the host.
The event closed with a group photo session and interviews with the media.
The launch of this book was not just a ceremonial event. It was a stage for resistance. A space that revived reason and awareness. Connie Rahakundini Bakrie, with all her soul and mind, has made a brave mark. He reminded us that a nation will never be great if it loses its sense of self. On that solemn TIM stage, words were not just read—they lit up, inspired, and revived the dreams of civilization.**”
Direct report by Jaya-News.com Contributor
Ali Aminulloh
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