Ancient manuscripts set to go on display
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)