"Aksara Ulu, or known as Aksara Kaganga, is an ancient script that was popular in 1925-1975, though now, only a small portion of the younger generation is familiar with these letters, so efforts to preserve it are necessary," the office's acting head, Pandji Tjahjanto, stated in Palembang, on Sunday.
Akas, or the South Sumatran Ulu Script Application, is an intelligent app capable of recognizing and converting images or letters from the South Sumatran Ulu script into Latin script. Akas can identify characters from camera photos, handwriting, or images uploaded to the application. Additionally, this application can convert Latin alphabet text into the South Sumatran Ulu script.
Tjahjanto explained that optimizing the application aligns with the government's commitment to preserving the 28 Kaganga letters in Aksara Ulu, which are registered as intangible cultural heritage at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.
Furthermore, he explained that optimizing the Akas application is both an effort to preserve the South Sumatran Ulu script and make it easier for the younger generation to learn these letters.
Within the application, users can translate Ulu script into Indonesian or vice versa and receive explanations on how to write the Ulu script.
Akas application users can also convert Indonesian sentences into sentences written in Kaganga letters.
To further preserve the Ulu script, the office continues to introduce it more widely to the public by featuring the ancient letters on screen-printed souvenir t-shirts sold at local souvenir centers.
Additionally, the office is working to display street names and government office names in Palembang City using the Ulu script.
Related news: Wonosobo to hold balloon show to mark bicentennial
Related news: Archaeological evidence backs RI’s oldest civilization claim: Zon
Translator: Yudi Abdullah, Martha Herlinawati Simanjuntak
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
