Happy birthday, Pramoedya Ananta Toer

Internationally acclaimed writer and Nobel Prize for Literature multiple nominee Pramoedya Ananta Toer celebrates his 80th birthday today.

In as much as Pramoedya himself is a controversial figure in his outspokenness and unabated quest for truth, his work has drawn both praise and criticism, but is undisputed in its chronicling of modern Indonesian history through the struggles of the common man.

We mark this special occasion by sharing birthday messages from his friends and contemporaries:

- May Pramoedya's hard work and courage make the world more humane. -- Eka Budianta, poet

- A long life for he who has left his trace on this world of men. -- Eka Kurniawan, novelist

- May you always remain in good health so you can continue to write for Indonesia. - Ferry Salim, actor and presenter

-- Happy birthday, Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a true feminist! -- Gadis Arivia, philosopher and founder of Jurnal Perempuan

- "Beware the breath; you're approaching death. So be glad!" -- Landung Simatupang, actor, poet, translator

- It seems only the deaf can hear the pure echo reverberating from the throat of the nation. -- Nirwan Arsuka, curator, Bentara Budaya

- To one of Indonesia's greatest living authors, we wish you a very happy 80th birthday and many more years of inspiring readers around the world. -- Mark Hanusz, publisher, Equinox Publishing

- Keep up your great enthusiasm for writing. Long life to you! -- Golagong, writer and TV screenwriter

- Many happy returns of the day to a true fighter of Indonesian literature who has left his mark of dignity on this world of men. -- Mudji Sutrisno, philosopher and man of letters

- Not many people have the privilege to enjoy the opportunities that Pak Pram has had: good health, creativity, experience and a long life. While thanking God for what He has bestowed upon you, and at the same time wishing to hold up as my model your sensitivity to capture the vibrancy of life and the bitterness of experiences -- and your capability of expressing them in the interests of many -- allow me to congratulate you on your birthday. May God look after you and keep you in good fortune. Please accept my profuse and warm wishes. -- Riris K. Toha Sarumpaet children's literature expert, University of Indonesia

- Power has sent this nation into a deep abyss of degradation. Pram is the savior. (Happy 80th birthday to Pramoedya Ananta Toer) -- Martin Aleida, novelist

- Happy Birthday. May God always be with you in all your work. God bless you. -- Maya Hasan, harpist

- Pak Pram, many have heaped praises on your novels, and as you celebrate your 80th birthday, I have discovered that my favorite is your collection of short stories in Cerita Dari Jakarta (Tales from Jakarta) -- Gus TF, writer

-- Happy birthday, Grandpa Pram, may you remain healthy and continue to write. -- Ahmad Tohari, novelist

-- What a delightful honor to be wishing you a Happy 80th Birthday, Bung Pram. You've been master and mentor to legions of us younger writers, and your courageous and insightful work has been an inspiration to me personally in so many ways. -- Richard Lewis, author, The Flame Tree

-- Happy birthday to the great writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer. There is no literary monument more universal and timeless than yours. I wish you good health. -- Kurnia Effendi, short story writer

-- Pak Pram, your madness is so beautiful. It is not imaginable in the world of our politicians. Happy birthday. -- Slamet A. Sjukur, composer

- On behalf of your many colleagues, friends and readers in Norway, it is a great pleasure for me to congratulate you, Pram, on your 80th birthday and wish you all the best for the future. I believe it gives hope to this turbulent and in so many ways, afflicted, world that your Buru Quartet is just now being read and admired by so many people in a country thousands of kilometers from your own homeland. -- Geir Pollen, president, Norwegian Authors' Union

- Happy birthday, Bung Pram! May you be granted the time to see the new generation of writers move on to a higher plane. -- Djenar Maesa Ayu, writer and housewife

- As you celebrate your birthday, the world continues looking forward to see you produce more monumental work in the years ahead. Best wishes. -- Taufik Darusman, poet and TV presenter

- Dear Pak Pramoedya, I wish you a day and a year of good health and great happiness. Your life has been a journey of hardship and courage. May we all learn from your experience. You certainly touched my heart, and I only hope my children will appreciate the gift you have given Indonesia. -- Janet de Neefe, director, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

- Bung Pram, Happy Birthday! You've been a fighter against injustice. A survivor against degrading repression. A giant in world literature. Now in your golden years, you are the light the rest of us warm to, so that we shall have the courage to carry on your legacy. -- Richard Oh, novelist and director of QB World Books

Awards
1951 First prize from Balai Pustaka for Perburuan (The Fugitive)
1953 Badan Musyawarah Kebudayaan Nasional for Cerita dari Blora (Tales from Blora)
1964 Yamin Foundation Award for Cerita dari Jakarta (Tales from Jakarta) - declined
* 1978 Adopted member of the Netherlands Centre of PEN International (during Buru exile)
* 1978 Honorary Member of the Japanese Centre of PEN Int'l 1982 Honorary Life Member of the International PEN Australia Center, Australia
1982 Honorary member of the PEN Center, Sweden
* 1987 Honorary member of the PEN American Center, USA
1988 Freedom to Write Award, PEN America
1989 Honorary member of Deutschsweizeriches Zentrum PEN, Switzerland
* 1989 Free to Write Award, PEN USA
1992 International PEN English Center Award, Great Britain
1995 Stichting Wertheim Award, the Netherlands
1995 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Philippines
1995 Nobel Prize for Literature nomination (Pramoedya has been nominated constantly since 1981.)
* 1996 Honorable mention, UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh award for promoting peace and tolerance
1999 Honorary Doctoral Degree of Humane Letters, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1999 Chancellor's Distinguished Honor Award, University of California, Berkeley
2000 Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France
2000 Fukuoka Asian Culture Grand Prize, Fukuoka, Japan
* 2002 Finalist, Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize
* 2004 Norwegian Authors' Union Freedom of Expression Award
* 2004 Award from Chilean President, centenary Pablo Neruda