CCN, Cilegon. The book titled ‘Geger Cilegon’ has taken the literary world by storm with its revelation of hidden facts about the historic event. Authored by Bambang Irawan, a dedicated researcher who spent over 20 years delving into the intricacies of Geger Cilegon, this book offers a profound perspective and enriches our understanding of this significant event in Indonesian history.(10/06/ 2023)
Although Bambang Irawan’s research process did not involve formal education in a university setting, the academic rigor of the book is unquestionable. The narrative, locations, and the names of the fighters are presented in accordance with historical facts.
In this context, Bambang Irawan highlights the difference between someone studying history as part of a university curriculum, with limitations imposed by time and the number of courses, and those who focus exclusively on studying the Geger Cilegon event for approximately 20 years. The understanding possessed by a ‘Specialist Researcher of Geger Cilegon History’ is believed to surpass that of individuals who spend five years in university.
Bambang Irawan provides an example of how reading the book ‘Pemberontakan Petani Banten 1888’ by Prof. Dr. Sartono Kartodirdjo requires a significant amount of time to comprehend even a single page. ‘Geger Cilegon’ is considered a ‘Masterpiece’ in Geger Cilegon’s history, offering insights and answering questions left unanswered in previous books.
The book also provides detailed explanations about various aspects that were not previously discussed in ‘Pemberontakan Petani Banten.’ Bambang Irawan hopes this book will serve as a guide for educators, particularly in teaching the history of Geger Cilegon.
One of the book’s attractions is its engaging writing style. The use of various language styles, such as novelistic, short story, poetic, and contemporary slang, aims to ignite the interest of young generations who often find history boring.
With the arrival of ‘Geger Cilegon,’ it is anticipated that the interest in reading history among the younger generation will be rekindled. The book is seen as a breakthrough in reviving the reading enthusiasm, reminiscent of the era of the 1960s and 1970s when individuals were captivated by serialized martial arts novels and other fictional tales. The book’s language style is considered secondary as long as its historical content remains grounded in facts and data.
“Thank you for the appreciation from the community and relevant parties. It is hoped that ‘Geger Cilegon’ will gain further recognition among the public for its unique writing style, while also fostering the reading interest of the younger generation and attracting the attention of academics to develop the study of this history in the field of education,” expressed Bambang Irawan.
(translated by Ahdi)
