Govt launches month of language and literature
Govt launches month of language and literature
JAKARTA (JP): Prominent man of letters and former student
activist during the late 1960's Taufiq Ismail yesterday received
the 1994 South East Asia Write Award and the annual Literature
Award from the Center for Language Training and Development for
the poems compiled in his book Tirani dan Benteng (Tyranny and
Barricade, 1993).
The awards were presented by Minister of Education and Culture
Wardiman Djojonegoro yesterday at the opening ceremony of the
"1994 Month of Language and Literature" which was held at the
Center for Language Training and Development in Rawamangun, East
Jakarta.
Other men of letters who received the first and second runner-
up prizes for the literature award were Kuntowijoyo, for Dilarang
Mencintai Bunga-bunga (Forbidden to Love Flowers, 1994) and N.
Riantiarno for Konglomerat Burisrawa (The Burisrawa Conglomerate,
1990). Representatives of both men received the awards on their
behalf.
Wardiman and his wife Atie were welcomed upon their arrival by
a group of young singers dressed in Moslem attire from the SMA
110 senior high school.
During the ceremony, controversial poet Emha Ainun Nadjib
presented several poems from his published collection.
Although in the beginning he said he would read religious
poems which would be "devoid of politics and criticism," he
nonetheless touched on sensitive issues from time to time.
Long known as a "rebel" of the government's mainstream
maneuvers, Emha has found himself in trouble several times for
reading poems which were often considered to be critical of the
government and its instruments.
In February he failed to obtain permission from Surabaya
officials to read a number of his more controversial poems. In
June, at Semarang's Diponegoro University, he was allowed to
perform only after the provincial governor softened his stance on
the ban.
His most recent performances in public were in August at
Jakarta's Taman Ismail Marzuki and last week, when he was
surprisingly invited to read his poems by Chief of the Diponegoro
Military Command Maj. Gen. Soeyono.
"I specifically asked the military to guarantee my safety and
insisted that we should try to accept each other despite our
differences," he told reporters.
Reality
Soeyono, Emha said, also asserted that his staff would "learn
to keep their ears from burning." "He also told his staff to
appreciate literature which in fact reflected the reality of the
country," Emha added.
Hasan Alwi, Head of the Center for Language Training and
Development said the "Month of Language" has been held each year
since 1980. In 1989, the activities were expanded to include
compiling literature as well.
The activities for this year will include seminars for junior
and senior high school teachers of Bahasa Indonesia,
competitions, language simulations, writing competitions for
teachers and students,Bahasa Indonesia courses and student
discussions.
The Indonesian archipelago consists of some 400 ethnic
languages and dialects and Bahasa Indonesia, the official
language which is used throughout the country, is mastered by 83
percent of the population.
The remaining 17 percent are officially considered "Bahasa
Indonesia illiterate."
Hasan explained that the Center aside from promoting the
Indonesian language also is responsible for promoting and
preserving the local dialects.
He said most of the Center's activities are currently carried
out on a cooperative basis with the local governments of 14
provinces of the country.(pwn)