Asrul Sani's 101st anniversary: National Library pushes classical adaptation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Library of the Republic of Indonesia is encouraging the adaptation of classic works to ensure they remain relevant to the current generation, during the opening of the “Jejak Langkah Kreatif Asrul Sani” (Creative Footsteps of Asrul Sani) exhibition in Jakarta on Tuesday, marking the 101st anniversary of Asrul Sani.

The Head of Perpusnas, E. Aminudin Aziz, stated that the National Library plays a role in continuously striving to enrich reading variety, including through the development and dissemination of literary works that align with reader interests to improve literacy quality.

“One of the steps being taken is encouraging the rewriting and adaptation of classic literary works to bring them closer to today’s generation. Additionally, several works are being transformed into various formats, such as comics and digital stories,” he said.

Perpusnas notes that it holds at least 80 collections related to this great Indonesian author. Aminudin remarked that the commemoration of Asrul Sani’s 101st anniversary is a shared responsibility, through which Perpusnas reintroduces the nation’s heritage of thought and literature to the public.

“Perpusnas possesses works by Asrul Sani. According to my records, we have detected 80 titles so far, consisting of 31 monographs, 16 magazines, three newspaper collections, three photo collections, and 27 audio collections,” he said.

The Head of Perpusnas also conveyed that the 101st anniversary of Asrul Sani is not merely a form of participation in an event, but part of fulfilling Perpusnas’s mandate to develop public literacy.

“Perpusnas carries the mission to work alongside ministries, agencies, and the community to address literacy-related issues. When we talk about literacy, we are talking about the development of critical thinking skills,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture, Bambang Wibawarta, stated that Asrul Sani was a maestro who made extraordinary contributions to the development of Indonesian literature, film, and cultural thought.

“Asrul Sani was a figure who not only produced works but also shaped the direction of national cultural development. In the field of film, his work became a milestone in national cinema,” he said.

“Through his works, he demonstrated that Indonesian film can be deeply rooted in national identity while possessing very high artistic quality,” he continued.

Bambang emphasised that Asrul Sani’s spirit of intellectuality and conviction serves as proof that culture is the foundation of a nation’s civilisation and an important inspiration for the younger generation.

As for Asrul Sani’s wife, Mutiara Sani Sarumpaet, she expressed that Asrul Sani was not only a man of letters, a cultural figure, a filmmaker, and a national thinker, but also a husband, friend, and life teacher.

“This 101st anniversary is not just a numerical commemoration, but an invitation to read, understand, and revive the inherited spirit—the spirit of critical thinking, the courage to create, and a commitment to human and national values,” she said.

The “Jejak Langkah Kreatif Asrul Sani” exhibition will run until 17 June 2026 in the exhibition space on the 4th floor of the Perpusnas Library Service Facilities Building. The exhibition features various archives, documentation, works, thoughts, and the life journey of Asrul Sani as a writer, cultural figure, filmmaker, politician, and educator.