Ordinary things brings Gus tf accolades

Ordinary things brings Gus tf accolades

Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, Padang, West Sumatra

Poet and storyteller Gus tf Sakai says recognition isn't
everything, but when the 39-year-old was handed an award last
month -- which usually goes to a writer over the age of 40 -- he
wasn't about to knock it back.

The Southeast Asian writers award, S.E.A Write, is awarded by
the Kingdom of Thailand, usually to a writer who has reached the
twilight of their career, or even penned the last of their work.

"I don't know whether (my age) is an indication of progress on
the part of the selection committee, or a sign that there are no
other older writers that deserve the award," he told The Jakarta
Post at his residence in Payakumbuh, West Sumatra.

He said the committee should not be swayed by nostalgia or
emotion, but award a writer based on their contribution to the
literature of their time.

Born on Aug. 13, 1965, Gus is the third writer from West
Sumatra to receive the award, after A.A. Navis in 1992 and Wisran
Hadi in 2000. Last year the award went to N.H. Dini, one of
Indonesia's most famous female writers.

Gus tf Sakai, or Gustrafizal, first decided to be a writer in
1985. That was the year he moved to Padang, 124 kilometers away
from his birthplace, the small town of Payakumbuh.

As his parents had difficulty funding his studies at the
School of Animal Husbandry, Andalas University, Padang, he
thought he would try to earn some money himself. The eldest of 10
siblings, Gus started to write poems and short stories under
several pen names, and went on to publish them in Hai -- a
magazine for teenagers published in Jakarta -- and also in
Singgalang, a daily published in Padang.

Gus realized that he had talent as a sixth grader, when his
essay Usaha Kesehatan di Sekolahku (Health Efforts in My School)
won first prize in a contest held by the municipal
administration.

Money was an obstacle that he believed he could overcome.

"I began to read and write intensively. I hoped, that way I
could get what I wanted. In the end, I became very much attached
to writing," he said.

Actually, Gus prefers writing poems to short stories as poetry
allows him greater freedom.

He realizes, however, that poetry is hard to sell and writes
novels and short stories as well, to supplement his income.

"That doesn't mean I write prose that's of a mediocre quality.
To earn more, you also have to write well (regardless of the
literary form)," he said.

If you make up your mind to live from writing, it is prudent
to make certain that your work is good, he added.

For poetry, Gus received the Sih Award in 2002 for his poem,
Susi 2000 M. He has published a collection of poems titled
Sangkar Daging (Cage of Meat, 1997) and will have another
collection, Daging Akar (Meat Root) published soon.

Three of Gus' novels have been published by Gramedia
publishing company. At first, he mostly wrote "pop" novels and
those intended for teenagers. He has also won several prizes in
novel and serial story writing contests held by teen and women's
magazines.

In 2000, his novel Tambo (A Meeting) was published and is now
being translated into English. In 2002 another novel, Tiga Cinta,
Ibu (Three Loves, Mom) was published.

In 2003, his novel titled Ular Keempat (The Fourth Snake) --
which is now in the process of being published -- won first
consolation prize in a writing contest held by the Jakarta Arts
Council.

His short stories have been included in Kompas national daily
since 1999. Gus has published three short story collections,
Istana Ketirisan (Leaking Palace, 1996), Kemilau Cahaya dan
Perempuan Buta (Shining Light and a Blind Woman, 1999) and Laba-
laba (Spider, 2003).

Besides which, in 1998 the Jakarta Arts Council shortlisted
two of his stories for inclusion among the "best short stories
published in Indonesian dailies".

His short story collection, Kemilau Cahaya dan Perempuan Buta,
published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama in 1999, received an academic
honor from the Lontar Foundation in 2001, and from the National
Language Center in 2002.

This year, he received the S.E.A Write Award based on one of
his story collections. The panel of judges -- selected by the
National Language Center -- chose the collection as it expressed
simple and ordinary things, or made that which was ordinary seem
extraordinary.

Early on in his career, he published under the name Gus tf,
for poems, and Gus tf Sakai, for prose. "Sakai" was a name given
to him at Andalas University by his peers.

"Everything that I do as a poet is embodied in the personality
of Gus tf. Likewise, when I write prose, it is embodied in Gus tf
Sakai. Today, this distinction is no longer necessary. But,
because I have used two names from the beginning, I appreciate
the names as each carries with it its own achievements," he
noted.

Gus will receive the S.E.A. Award 2005 in Bangkok on Oct. 7
but said that the award would not much affect his writing
activities.

The father of three is married to Zurniati and resides in
Payakumbuh, after moving back in 1996. He aims to write prose
that is "free from other realms", and not burdened by
philosophical, religious or scientific thought.