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.