In the Footsteps of Their Father, Gus Dur

When former President Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid passed away on Dec. 30, 2009, his youngest daughter, Inayah Wulandari Rahman, was by his side.

His death came just one day before her 27th birthday.

From right, Gus Dur’s daughters, Icha, Yenny Wahid and Anit. All four of his daughters are in one way or another carrying on their father’s legacy of encouraging tolerance and pluralism.  (Antara Photo/M. Agung Rajasa)

“It’s a heartbreaking moment when celebrations of life and death coincide,” Inayah said. “But fate cannot be resisted. Since that day, the annual commemoration of my father’s death will always be wrapped up with the celebration of my birthday.”

Inayah was not alone in mourning her father’s death. Together, the nation grieved the passing of the first elected president after the fall of the New Order regime of President Suharto.

As president and in his role as the longtime chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organization, Gus Dur was renowned for his commitment to social justice and religious pluralism.

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