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

The National Library of Indonesia is encouraging the adaptation of classic works to make them more relevant for today’s generation, marking the opening of the ‘Jejak Langkah Kreatif Asrul Sani’ exhibition to commemorate the 101st anniversary of Asrul Sani in Jakarta on Tuesday. Head of the National Library E. Aminudin Aziz stated that the institution plays a role in continuously striving to enrich the variety of reading materials, including through the development and dissemination of literary works that match readers’ interests in order to improve literacy quality. ‘One of the steps being taken is to encourage the rewriting and adaptation of classical literary works so they are closer to the current generation. In addition, a number of works are also being transmediated into various formats, such as comics and digital stories,’ he said. The National Library noted it holds at least 80 collections from the great Indonesian literary figure. Aminudin said the 101st commemoration of literary figure Asrul Sani is part of a shared responsibility. In this case, the National Library is bringing back the legacy of the nation’s thought and literary works to the public. ‘The National Library holds Asrul Sani’s works. In my records, so far we have detected 80 titles, consisting of 31 monographs, 16 magazines, three newspaper collections, three photo collections, and 27 audio collections,’ he stated. The Head of the National Library also conveyed that the 101st commemoration of Asrul Sani is not merely a form of participation in an activity, but rather part of carrying out the National Library’s mandate to develop public literacy. ‘The National Library carries the mission to work together with ministries, agencies, and the community to handle issues related to literacy. When we talk about literacy, we are talking about the development of critical thinking skills,’ he said. Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture Bambang Wibawarta said that Asrul Sani was a maestro who contributed enormously to the development of literature, film, and Indonesian cultural thought. ‘Asrul Sani is a figure who not only produced works but also shaped the direction of national cultural development. In the field of film, his works became a milestone in the history of national cinema,’ he said. ‘Through his works, he demonstrated that Indonesian film can be strongly rooted in the nation’s identity while possessing very high artistic quality,’ he added. Bambang emphasised that Asrul Sani’s spirit of intellectuality and conviction serves as proof that culture is the foundation of the nation’s civilisation and an important inspiration for the younger generation. Asrul Sani’s wife, Mutiara Sani Sarumpaet, stated that Asrul Sani was not only a literary figure, cultural figure, filmmaker, and thinker of the nation, but also a husband, friend, and life teacher. ‘This century plus one year is not just a commemoration of a number, but an invitation to read, understand, and revive the legacy of the spirit of critical thinking, the courage to create, and a commitment to human and national values,’ she said. The exhibition runs until 17 June 2026 in the exhibition hall on the 4th floor of the National Library’s Service Facilities Building, displaying various archives, documentation, works, thoughts, and the life journey of Asrul Sani as a literary figure, cultural figure, filmmaker, politician, and educator.