Ancient manuscripts set to go on display

JAKARTA (JP): The display of old manuscripts -- some dating back to the fifth and sixth centuries -- at an exhibition will be the highlight of a series of activities designed to promote and conserve Indonesian literary works.

The organizers said that a collection of about 100 ancient manuscripts will be on display at the exhibition, to be held at the National Library from June 12 to 21. The event will be opened by President Soeharto.

The manuscripts, which belong to the National Library, come from all parts of the archipelago, Achdiati Ikram, the organizing committee's chairperson, told reporters yesterday.

The University of Indonesia's School of Letters, the National Library and the Lontar Foundation are joining forces to produce a series of activities for the literary community. Besides the exhibition, there will be an international symposium on old Indonesian manuscripts on June 4 and 5 at the University of Indonesia's School of Medicine.

Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro is slated to open the symposium, while Director General of Culture Edi Sedyawati will be the keynote speaker.

The organizers have invited both local and foreign experts to give their views, including I Kuntara Wiryamartana of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Amin Sweeney of the University of California in Los Angeles, Mukhlis Paini of the University of Hassanudin in Ujungpandang, and Sapardi Djoko Damono of the University of Indonesia.

The activities will be capped by the launching of a book on the history of Indonesian manuscript writing.

The book, Illuminations: Writing Traditions of Indonesia, a detailed history of writing in general and the art of script writing in Indonesia, is rich in manuscript photographs.

The book, written by experts commissioned by the Lontar Foundation, is edited by Dr. Ann Kumar and John H. McGlynn, an American and co-founder of Lontar. It is jointly published by Lontar and Weatherhill Inc. of New York.

Sapardi Djoko Damono, another Lontar co-founder, said the Indonesian edition of the book, Candi Bahasa: Tradisi Menulis di Indonesia, will be published later in the year.

Lontar, established in 1987, is a non-profit organization whose primary aim is to foster greater appreciation of Indonesian culture.

Lontar has translated the works of noted Indonesian writers and has been active in film, theater, dance and art as well as preserving old manuscripts. (01)