Isbedy, 'literary pope' of Lampung

Isbedy, 'literary pope' of Lampung

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

No discussion about modern Indonesian literature in Lampung would
be complete without touching upon Isbedy Stiawan ZS. The father
of five, with two grandchildren, is now undeniably Lampung's
literary icon.

He is the driving force for literary activities carried out by
the new generation of Lampung writers. It is only apt, therefore,
that noted Indonesian literary critic, the late HB Jassin, once
called him "the literary pope of Lampung".

Unlike other regions in Sumatra, like West Sumatra province,
for example, where modern literary activities began in the 1920s,
such activities in Lampung generally did not begin until the
1970s following the emergence of young writers like Isbedy
Stiawan, Asrori Malik Zulqornain, Iwan Nurdaya Djafar and Syaiful
Irba Tanpa.

Of these four literary pioneers in Lampung, only Isbedy is
still productive as a writer today. The other three, Asrori, Iwan
and Syaiful, are now working as civil servants, Isbedy is a full-
time writer. He spent only a short time working as a civil
servant in the province's animal husbandry service.

Aged 47 now, Isbedy's strength as a writer is growing. In the
past three years, for example, he has produced a great number of
short stories and poems and published them in many different mass
media.

"When my two grandchildren were born and I stopped working as
a journalist, my enthusiasm to write surged uncontrollably. I do
not wait for inspiration to hit me. Instead, I actively look for
inspiration and create poetic moments," he said.

Throughout 2004, for example, four of his books were
published. These included, Bulan Rebah di Meja Diggers (The Moon
Lies Down on Diggers Table), an anthology of short stories
published by Beranda in August, and Dawai Kembali Berdenting
(Musical Instrument Strings Give the Twang Again), another
anthology of short stories, published in November by Logung
Pustaka.

Perempuan Sunyi (Women in Silence), another anthology of short
stories, was published by Gama Media in December, and Dongeng
Sebelum Tidur (Bedside Tales), stories for children, was
published by Beranda in September.

The year 2005 has so far seen the publication of two of his
collection of short stories, namely Selembut Angin Setajam
Ranting (As Gentle as the Wind, As Sharp as the Twig, LP
Publishing House, April) and Seandainya Kau Jadi Ikan (If You
Turned into a Fish, Gramedia PustakaUtama, May), an anthology of
short stories.

His new collection of short stories, Hanya untuk Satu Nama
(Only for One Name, Bentang, Yogyakarta) will see the light of
day in June.

As of now there are about 300 poems and 100 short stories to
his credit. Aside from being published in nearly all print media
publications in Indonesia, his stories and poems have been
published in five anthologies of his poetic work and dozens of
anthologies together with other poets' work.

Some of his poems have been broadcast on German radio station
Deutsche Welle, performed as musically oriented poems by poet
Geoff Fox of Australia and performed on the theatrical stage in
Lampung.

"I will continue writing until my hand can no longer write and
my mouth can no longer utter literary works. This will happen
when the cultural editors in the mass media and the publishers
reject my work.

"As long as my work is acceptable, I will continue to write. I
live on writing. With my poems and short stories I feed my
family," he said.

In the last four years, following his resignation as a
journalist, he has relied completely on writing as a means of
living to feed his family. He is very disciplined over how he
manages his time.

"As a writer, I stick to a clear work schedule. Each day I
write between 7:30 a.m. and noon and between 7:30 p.m. and 1 a.m.
the next morning. Once I'm at my computer, ideas come freely to
me. I don't plan the ending of my stories," he said.

Although he spends most days writing, Isbedy still sets aside
some time to meet his fellow writers and fans. Sometimes he
presents a paper at a seminar or gives a cultural address. At
other times he does poetry readings and takes part in protest
rallies at the provincial legislative assembly in an effort to
persuade provincial legislators to pay more attention to
budgetary allocations for the poor.

When the tsunami hit Aceh, he and a number of non-governmental
organizations pioneered the establishment of Lampung Ikhlas
(Sincerity of Lampung), an association made up of various non-
governmental organizations and individuals, with the common
purpose of distributing relief aid and sending volunteers to Aceh
and North Sumatra.

"I live in the community. The characters in my stories are
taken from the community. It is impossible for me to avoid social
problems and live in an ivory tower," he said, explaining why he
was involved in nonliterary activities.

Christian Heru Saputro, his friend and also a loyal reader of
his works, has said that Isbedy is not choosy about the mass
media he sends his stories to. "He sends them to literary
journals and women's tabloids and radio stations. That's why his
works are popular not only among the literati but also housewives
and high-school students," he said.

Saputro also said that Isbedy's early poems contained a strong
sufic element. In the years following reform, however, his works
have centered more on social problems. The problems in his
stories are derived from daily social problems, too.

"If you are to find his weaknesses, perhaps they are his
stubbornness and his refusal to compromise. Besides, sometimes he
is too strong when he lashes out at the regional administration.
As a fellow member of the executive board of Lampung Arts
Council, I'm often worried that the provincial budget is the
source of finance for our council," said Saputro.

Isbedy began his work as a writer with hard work. In the late
1970s Isbedy tended his parent's cake stall and spent a lot of
time reading there. Later, he recorded the experience in a story
and sent it to RRI Tanjungkarang (the local radio station), to be
broadcast on the station's youth program.

Although he was only a senior technical school graduate, young
Isbedy never stopped learning. He learned how to write poems and
short stories by himself. After a drama rehearsal, for example,
he would discuss literary matters with his friend. That way he
improved his creativity as a writer.

Although none of his five children followed in his footsteps
as a writer, they nevertheless appreciate works of literature.

They often take things to read from his bookshelves.