Banda Aceh News | PEUKAN BADA, ACEH — Demonstrating a firm commitment to regional heritage and cultural preservation, the Secretary of Peukan Bada District (Sekcam), Rusydi, S.Ag., M.Pd., served as a keynote speaker during an educational forum engaging students from the Literary and Cultural Studies Study Program at the Indonesian Institute of Arts and Culture (ISBI) Aceh on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The academic engagement focused on promoting the rich historical landmarks, cultural reserves, and potential heritage tourism destinations embedded throughout Peukan Bada District in Aceh Besar Regency.
During his address, Rusydi presented an array of historic sites that played pivotal roles in shaping Acehnese identity. Highlighted landmarks included the birthplace of Indonesian National Heroine Cut Nyak Dhien, the historic Balee Ikrar Lamteh, and the revered Tomb of Tgk. Chik Maharaja Gurah.
Through this immersive exposition, ISBI Aceh students were invited to deepen their appreciation of local cultural treasures that constitute the foundational identity of the Peukan Bada community.
“Peukan Bada possesses a rich historical and cultural legacy that we must collectively safeguard. We hope the younger generation, particularly university students, will come to know, cherish, and actively promote this historical inheritance so it remains preserved and recognized by the wider public,” Rusydi emphasized.
Bridging Academic Inquiry and Educational Tourism
District authorities underscored that regional historical monuments are far more than silent witnesses to a bygone era; they represent high-value assets capable of driving educational and historical tourism. Introducing heritage reserves to university students serves as a strategic catalyst to cultivate youth stewardship over local history.
Furthermore, district leadership expressed optimism that ISBI Aceh scholars will actively contribute to amplifying Peukan Bada’s cultural footprint through academic research, field documentation, creative artistic endeavors, and digital storytelling.
The event also served as a vital bridge strengthening institutional synergy between local administrative governance and academic circles, aligning municipal development goals with history-based ecotourism and community-backed preservation.
Rihlah Budaya: Inspiring the Next Generation of Cultural Scholars
Muhammad Tahir, M.S., Coordinator of the Literary and Cultural Studies Program at ISBI Aceh, accompanied by ISBI Aceh Public Relations Officer Muhammad Zacky, M.Pd., stated that the field initiative was formally organized under the banner “Rihlah Budaya” (Cultural Journey).
“Through this Rihlah Budaya initiative, we aim to ensure our students become historically conscious and culturally literate regarding Aceh’s reserves—especially within Aceh Besar and specifically across Peukan Bada District,” Tahir noted.
He added that students thoroughly engaged with the field experience and will produce academic travelogues and analytical essays documenting their observations throughout the cultural journey.
By connecting young scholars directly with living history, regional authorities and academic leaders are ensuring that Acehnese cultural heritage transcends passive memory, evolving instead into an active reservoir of knowledge, civic pride, and sustainable regional development.
