Hamsad wins literary award

Hamsad wins literary award

INDONESIA: Veteran literary figure Hamsad Rangkuti emerged as the winner of the 2003 Khatulistiwa Literary Award on Friday night in Jakarta.

He bested four other finalists with his short story anthology Bibir Dalam Pispot (Lips In the Chamber Pot).

The 60 year old received a cash prize of Rp 70 million (US$8,285) and a scholarship to train in England as well as to have his anthology translated into English.

Hamsad Rangkuti expressed delight at winning and said the award was his most cherished among all the awards he has ever won during his 43-year career.

He later told Antara that he would use the money from his prize to buy an angkot (public minivan) for his children.

In his speech titled "The Author and His Roots", the former editor of Horison literary magazine said that falsehood and injustice in the community drove him to express provocative thoughts.

The other four finalists were poet Sapardi Djoko Damono with his collection of poems Ada Berita Apa Hari ini, Den Sastro? (What's the News Today, Den Sastro?), Nukila Amal with her debut novel Cala Ibi, Radhar Panca Dahana with his anthology of poems Lalu Batu (Then Stone) and Joko Pinurbo's anthology of poems Telepon Genggam (Cell phone).

-- Antara