UNAIR NEWS – All UNAIR students must know Jalan Dharmawangsa. It is a street located in Campus B of Universitas Airlangga. It is exactly at the exit of the campus. Jalan Dharmawangsa has always been full of students passing-by.

Because of its strategic position and near campus area, no wonder if many locals use the street as their business spot. Various business kinds such as culinary, boarding houses, photocopy outlets and internet cafes can be easily spotted there.

Even it has been familiar area for students, not many of them know the story behind the name Dharmawangsa. Who would have thought that Dharmawangsa had kept a fascinating life story of Prabu Airlangga. He was the king which inspired the campus name itself. Delving into the history of Prabu Airlangga, we will find the connections.

Once upon a time, Prabu Airlangga, who was a king and the founder of Kahuripan Kingdom, has an uncle. To strengthen ties between them, the uncle married his daughter to Airlangga. Tragically, in the middle of the marriage ceremony at Wwatan City, an unexpected and big attack was launched by Wurawari force supported by Sriwijaya troops.

The uncle died in the attack. Airlangga escaped to a jungle and started his life as a hermit. The uncle of Prabu Airlangga had been titled Sri Maharaja Isana Dharmawangsa Teguh Anantawikramotunggadewa. Indeed, Dharmawangsa is the uncle and father in law of Prabu Airlangga.

Eventhough his name was not as popular as Airlangga, his existence had an immense role in the King’s life. Not only as an uncle or father in law, his deftness to lead the kingdom gave a big impact to Prabu Airlangga’s life journey.

In the story, after Dharmawangsa died in the Wurawari attack, Medang Kingdom had its downfall. The destroyed capital city, Wwatan, was followed with many regions seceded from the dominion of Medang Kingdom and became its end. This condition forced Airlangga to build the kingdom back after his uncle’s death.

That was a little history about Dharmawangsa and Airlangga. It was not complete yet. Find more thorough and comprehensive reference if you want to know more. Hopefully the students will be interested in the story as Dharmawangsa is indispensable for their life. They always go along the street.

Don’t talk only about the food. “Story about Jalan Dharmawangsa? I just know about delicious food stands there at night,” a student said in giggles. (*)

Author : Nourma Vidya P.
Editor: Rio F. Rachman