Two days after the passing of Professor Dr. Bernard Arief Sidharta, S.H., a Requiem Mass and final tribute was held on Thursday 26/11). The Mass that was held at 07.30 AM Western Indonesia Time (WIB) at the lobby of Parahyangan Catholic University’s Rectorate building, was attended by families, foundation officials and UNPAR leaders as well as students association and alumni of the Faculty of Law (FH UNPAR).
Mr. Arief Sidharta, as the deceased was called, was born 77 years ago in Garut, on November 8, 1938. His dedication to Law was had been displayed since FH UNPAR was established in 1958. The deceased doubled as the first batch of students and administrative staff at FH UNPAR. After finishing his studies in 1964, he continued his study until he received his Doctoral degree in Law from Padjadjaran University in 1996.
In UNPAR especially in the Faculty of Law, the deceased was the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs (1966-1980), The Dean (1995-1997), and the Head of the Research Institute (1999-2001). During his life, Mr. Arief Sidharta was well known as a true professor who never stopped learning, sharing knowledge and aiding fellow lecturers to become people of high quality and high morality.
“… He was a teacher whose passion was to share knowledge. After writing scientific works (papers, books, translations), Mr. Arief always made multiple copies available for other lecturers, including young lecturers.” according to Mr. Budi Prastowo who is also a lecturer in FH UNPAR.
Mr. Arief Sidharta’s scope of activity was not limited to UNPAR. He was a member of West Java Province’s Regional House of Representatives (1971-1981), Finance and Personnel Director at the Santo Borromeus Hospital Bandung (1983), administrator for St Borromeus hospital’s association, the first chairman of the Association of Law Philosophy (2012) and an expert witness for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Budi Gunawan’s Pre-trial.
With all his knowledge and experience, Mr. Arief remained a modest and low-profile figure. In his students’ eyes Mr. Arief Sidharta has been a role model who believed that a struggle is the key to success.
“…Mr. Arief is one of the examples of a person who did not only speak of but also implemented the UNPAR’s motto ’Bakuning Hyang Mrih Guna Santjatja Bhakti.’ From him, we learned to be loyal to small cases in order to produce major works,” stated Unggul Fajar Andrean, the Chairman of the Law Science Students Association (HMPSIH) 2015-2016 periods.
“… UNPAR declares itself to be a humane university, that pays attention and defends the truth, prioritizes the unprivileged, emphasizes the truth and virtue; all of these existed in Professor Dr. Bernard Arief Sidharta”, according to Mangadar Situmorang, Ph.D., as the Rector of Parahyangan Catholic University, in his speech.
Now, Mr. Arief Sidharta is gone but he still speaks to us through all the virtues, examples, works, and thoughts he left for us.
“Goodbye oh Great Teacher and our Role Model, permit us to continue your struggle.”
