RI literature scene in 1995: More arguing, less writing

RI literature scene in 1995: More arguing, less writing

By Johannes Simbolon

JAKARTA (JP): This was a sad year for literature. Amidst the lack of productivity, the Indonesian literary world quarreled without conclusion over the bestowal of the Magsaysay award to novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

Only two works were published this year, which were considered important. Of the two only one, Arus Balik (Backward Current) by Pramoedya, is really new stuff. Published in August, it is an epic about the disintegration of power in the Archipelago around the 15th century.

Another book, Prahara Budaya (Cultural Calamity), published in March, is a compilation of essays, speeches and poems written during the Old Order era. The editors, poet Taufiq Ismail and archivist D.S. Moelyanto, claimed the book aimed to give true information to the young generation about the despotic manner of communist writers in the past. The editors deliberately filled the compilation with many of Pramoedya's writings which betrayed his support of communism. This suggests the main purpose of the book is to attack Pramoedya personally.

Pramoedya was the recipient of a lot of attacks from the government as well as anti-communist writers he had hurt in the past. The government banned his book Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu (The Silent Song of A Mute), his memoir during his internment as a political prisoner, as of May. It also limited the distribution of his collection of short stories Cerita Dari Blora (Stories from Blora) to Central Java as of February.

Magsaysay

Despite the attacks and the ban, Pramoedya stole the limelight this year. To the bewilderment of his critics, he received the Magsaysay award, Asia's version of the Nobel prize. The Magsaysay award committee judged Pramoedya has succeeded in producing masterpieces about the historical awakening and modern experience of the Indonesian people.

Two other Indonesian literary men who have received the award are Mochtar Lubis and H.B. Jassin.

Attacks on Pramoedya followed the publication of his Prahara Budaya and culminated after he was named the winner of Magsaysay award in July.

A group of 24 writers announced a joint protest, saying he was not worthy of the award. The group included Mochtar Lubis, H.B. Jassin, W.S. Rendra, Rosihan Anwar, Taufiq Ismail, Asrul Sani, Danarto, Ikranegara, Syu'bah Asa and Mochtar Pabotinggi

The group still felt grudges against Pramoedya for his witch hunting activities of the group and other non-Lekra writers during the era of Guided Democracy from 1959 to 1965 and demanded that he apologize for that.

Pramoedya was associated with the Lekra, the communist wing organization of writers and literary critics, which in the 1960s launched a campaign to oppress those who did not conform with their views.

He was arrested and interned after the 1965 abortive communist coup and released in the late 1970s.

The writers who protested Pramoedya's award achievement charged that he had led the oppression of creativity of non- communist writers, playwrights, filmmakers, painters and musicians, endorsing the banning of their books and music records and hailing the burning of books in several towns in the country. They demanded that he apologize for his wrongs. Mochtar Lubis even threatened to return his Magsaysay award.

Pramoedya over and over insisted on his innocence, saying he was never active at the Lekra.

The protests were followed by a long debate, involving almost all of the country's prominent writers. Some, including Arief Budiman, asked that Pramoedya be forgiven. However, Mochtar Lubis and others insisted Pramoedya must first apologize, something Pramoedya was never willing to do.

Pramoedya's wife received the award on his behalf in September in Manila since the writer was still banned from traveling. The day before, Lubis officially returned to the Magsaysay committee the award he achieved in 1958.

Good news

Goods news came from novelist Achmad Tohari. He received the SEA Write Award, the highest literary award in the ASEAN region, from the Thailand government in July.

Also this year, Tohari's famous book Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk (The Dancer from Paruk Hamlet) was translated into Arabian and Chinese, with and without permissions respectively.

The novel as well his other works entitled Bintang Kemukus (The Morning Star), Jentera Bianglala (The Rainbow Wheel) and Kubah (The Dome) had previously been translated into German, Dutch, English and Japanese.

The translation of Indonesian works seemed to intensify this year. Aside from Achmad, Pramoedya also had his book Arus Balik translated into Dutch. The Dutch translation was published simultaneously with the Indonesian edition.

Bulgarian poet Krassin Himmirsky brought some good news. Early this year he published an anthology of Indonesian poems in Bulgarian. The work represents Indonesian poets from the first generation like Amir Hamzah and Chairil Anwar to the younger generation like Sitok Srengenge.

Himmirsky had earlier published some Indonesian folklore and plays and has plans to publish the anthology of Indonesian short stories.

Poetry

Poetry remains popular among the public, yet only several poetry books which are considered important were published this year.

One of them is Nanyian Sepi (Silent Song), a collection of poems of the bold director/playwright Arifin C. Noor. The book, published by his family and friends, collects his poems spanning from the 1960s to the day before his death in May this year.

The book only received moderate praise from critics. Critic Sapardi Djoko Damono commented in the introduction that the poems are less poetic than the dialogs in Arifin's plays.

Poet Subagio Sastrowardoyo published his last collection of poems before he died in July. The swansong, entitled Dan Kematian Makin Akrab (And Death Becomes Friendlier), collects his poems written since he started his career as a writer in 1957 up to the 1990s.

Many poetry readings were staged throughout the year. Some of them were international events, like the Indonesian-Dutch poetry reading held in September. On the occasion, top Dutch and Belgian poets co-performed with Indonesian poets.

As usual, there weren't any big national events without poetry readings on the schedule. On these occasions, professional poets co-performed with amateur readers -- government officials and business people -- who obviously think poetry reading is the easiest of all art works.

WS Rendra, the pioneer of modern poetry reading in Indonesia, unmistakably stole most of the limelight.

This year, the "Peacock", thus he was nicknamed for his notorious flair for women, staged two solo performances and many co-performances with others.

His first solo performance was held in June and the second one in November. No new poems were read during the shows.

If the first performance received acclaim from critics, the second one, which was held in conjunction with his 60 birthday, ended up with controversy which stemmed from the fact that Gatra magazine was the sponsor. Artists and journalists could not accept that a figure like Rendra, who is well known for his long struggle against despotism, would cooperate with this magazine.

Gatra, owned by timber tycoon Muhammad "Bob" Hassan, was published by former Tempo magazine's reporters after the banning of the magazine last year. Many Tempo journalists dismissed the magazine as sponsored by the government and decried their fellow colleagues who worked for the magazine as traitors.

Rendra's performance was marked with protests and poetry readings, condemning his cooperation with Gatra, outside the venue at the Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center. They accused Rendra of undermining the people's struggle for democracy.

Rendra's support for Tempo when it was banned is undisputable. He was among the protesters who was apprehended by the police in the wake of the banning.

Rendra defended his view, saying there are many ways to struggle and that Gatra people have also their own way to struggle.

Like in previous years, this year politics encroached on the Indonesian literary world as well as other kinds of arts. None dare to predict that the situation will change next year.