Kahin's book translated into Indonesian

JAKARTA (JP): Intellectuals applauded the launch of a translation of Indonesian observer George Mc Turnan Kahin's dissertation on the country's revolution.

Entitled "Reflections of a Republic's Struggle at Birth - Nationalism and Revolution in Indonesia", the book was first published four decades ago and is now regarded as a classic.

"This is one of the complete records about revolutionary actions in Indonesia, starting in colonial times until the Dutch acknowledged independence," said Miriam Budiardjo, the doyenne of social and political sciences, at the book launching yesterday.

Budiardjo, a professor at the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences, said Kahin's work stands out as a specific, comprehensive and objective scientific document and also a live account of the revolution.

"Now the younger generation will be able to research and understand the very beginnings of our nation and the situation and conditions afterwards," she said.

The event was attended by a number of intellectuals, politicians and celebrities including Megawati Soekarnoputri, Poppy Syahrir, Herawati Diah, Selo Soemardjan, Ali Budiardjo, Ali Sadikin, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Subadio Sastrosatomo, Melly G. Tan, Rizal Ramli and Franz Magnis Suseno.

Kahin reminisced about his time in Yogyakarta in the late 1940s when he was trying to finish his dissertation.

As one of very few American citizens living in the city, he said he was suspected of spying for the Dutch by the Indonesian military. The Dutch, on the other hand, thought that he was a spy for the young republic.

"I was lucky to have met the leaders of the revolution as Sukarno, Hatta, Syahrir," said Kahin, referring to the country's first president, vice president and prime minister.

Kahin was once awarded a medal of merit by the Indonesian government.

"Publishing the book was like entering a vast and dense forest," said Aristides Katoppo, director of Sinar Harapan Library which, together with the March Eleven University Press, published the Indonesian translation of Kahin's dissertation.

Katoppo said the translation was snagged by financial restrictions and the difficulties in finding a partner to publish the 600-page book.

"The delay proved to be a blessing in disguise because now the launch of the book coincides with the golden anniversary of Indonesia's 50th year of independence," Katoppo said.

The translator of the book, 49-year-old Nin Bakdi Soemanto, joked to The Jakarta Post that he had nearly forgotten about translating the book. "I completed translating the book ten years ago," said Nin. (aks)