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Solo. Renowned for coining the phrase, “ Solo masa depan adalah Solo masa lalu ” [“Solo’s future is Solo’s past”], Mayor Joko Widodo has decided to make it compulsory for all civil servants to use the Javanese language in both formal and informal communication during work hours every Friday.

“If not us, then who will rescue our culture, our language? I am concerned that this nation is heading toward destruction because it lacks the skills to look after its own culture and cultural heritage,” Joko said on Wednesday in a speech to commemorate Solo’s 265th anniversary.

Joko also asked that state schools in the city use the Javanese language at least once a week. He said that he was forced to take such measures in order to preserve the Javanese language and culture because the youth of today preferred to use foreign languages to communicate with one another.

“Use of the Javanese language by all civil servants in Solo will become effective this Friday. This applies to the mayor [myself] as well,” Joko said. “Official letters issued by our offices, however, will still use Bahasa Indonesia.”

Two years ago, Joko, a former antiques and furniture trader, made it mandatory for signboards at government institutions, offices and nongovernmental organizations, plus road signs, to use Javanese characters.

When the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization decided to add the traditional dyeing technique of batik to its intangible cultural heritage list last October, Joko not only made it mandatory for civil servants and schoolchildren to wear batik uniforms but also decided to add the making of batik to the curriculum of Solo’s schools.

Solo Education Agency chief Rakhmat Sutomo said on Wednesday that in state schools the Javanese language was not only used but was compulsory in classes focused on local cultural values and customs.

Imam Sutardjo, a lecturer of Javanese literature at Solo’s Sebelas Maret University, said that Joko’s move was not a maneuver to restrict the use of the Indonesian language.

“This is simply an effort to salvage the identity of the nation, which stems from Bhinneka Tunggal Ika ,” Imam said, referring to Indonesia’s national motto, an old Javanese phrase which means unity in diversity.