Indonesian literature

Indonesian literature refers to written works originating in the Republic of Indonesia and associated areas. Indonesia, consisting of more than three hundred ethnic groups across more than seventeen thousand five hundred islands, has a long tradition of cultural diversity as well as an ancient passion for storytelling. Early-modern Indonesian writers questioned the colonization of the land by the Dutch, and then helped form the identity of the new country upon its independence in the 1940s. Indonesian writers have worked to entertain and enlighten, while balancing internal and external influences, and themes of the past, present, and future. In the twenty-first century, following a long period of political restriction, Indonesian writers often work with themes of cultural mixing, national identity, past wars and disasters, and the struggles and victories of everyday people.

Background

The Republic of Indonesia is located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, stretching from Oceania to Southeast Asia. Indonesia is one of the most diverse countries in the world, in people as well as in geography. It is an archipelago of more than seventeen thousand five hundred islands. Some of the largest of these islands include Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and regions of New Guinea and Borneo.

These islands are home to more than three hundred distinct ethnic groups, including the Javanese, Sudanese, Madurese, Balinese, Betawi, Batak, and Malay people. The unique geographic distribution of the country has created a balance of national unity with a remarkable degree of internal variation. Historical heritage, politics, culture, art, and language are just a few factors in which the people of Indonesia vary. Different groups on various islands developed distinct microcultures thanks to their significant degree of physical isolation from outside influences.

For these reasons, studying the literature of Indonesia is a complicated task. A thorough study would require consideration of hundreds of writers, cultures, significant works, and literary traditions. It would also have to deal with questions of borders, immigration, and national identity. However, some common themes, notable authors, and influential writings can provide a general survey of this broad topic.

Overview

Far back in the Indonesian literary tradition, few tales were written down. Most stories were memorized and orally transmitted between groups and generations by storytellers. Only the largest Indonesian languages, such as Malay, Javanese, and Balinese, developed written forms in historic times. Although that allowed their stories to be recorded, they were still written with storytelling in mind, as the manuscripts were cherished communal objects to be read aloud at gatherings. Even in modern times, the ancient appreciation of story remains a main factor in Indonesian literature.

Prior to Indonesia’s formation as an independent nation, when Indonesia was still a Dutch colony, many writers in the region leaned heavily on Western fiction traditions. They imported European themes and adapted and translated works such as Sherlock Holmes and Robinson Crusoe. Only in the twentieth century did significant numbers of Indonesian writers begin seeking a more distinct voice that better exemplified their own culture. Some of these early modern writers—who became influential even before the country of Indonesia gained its independence in the late 1940s—include Tirto Adhi Suryo, Mas Marco Kartodikromo, and Abdul Muis. Their work helped to establish the character of literature in Indonesia, as well as the identity of the region and the soon-to-form nation.

Around the time when Indonesia declared independence from the Netherlands and gained recognition as a new country, other authors helped to speculate on and define what it meant to be Indonesian. Some of the most prolific writers of that period include Sanusi Pane, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, and Armijn Pane. These writers dealt with cultural topics such as the balance between Indonesian traditions and the influences of the West and other parts of the world.

The influential writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer wrote a series of novels that use the format of an alternative history to criticize the government of Indonesia and the faulty ideals behind the country’s development. Some writers of this period, such as Chairil Anwar and Idrus, heavily borrowed themes from Western literature, but used these themes to promote nationalism.

Many readers, critics, and historians believe that Indonesian literature reached its so-called Golden Age in the 1950s and 1960s, when writers began striking a balance between the distinct cultures and traditions of their land and the many influences in surrounding regions. Authors also took strong stances on political and military topics, including the struggle between democracy and communism that led to the decades-long Cold War.

Just as literature in Indonesia was finding its footing, however, General Suharto took over the country, declaring himself president in 1967. Establishment of what is widely regarded as a dictatorship led to a period of restrictions, heavy censorship, and oppression towards the literary community. Only following the end of Suharto’s authoritarian rule in 1998 did some optimism return to Indonesian writing, and even that was tempered by caution and doubt.

By the twenty-first century, Indonesian literature largely focused on the daily lives of people within the unique realities of the modern country. Authors such as Ahmad Fuadi and Andrea Hirata have written about topics such as religion, education, and poverty. Tales of war and oppression figure largely in the works of Eka Kurniawan and Seno Gumira Ajidarma. Many writers, such as Ayu Utami and Nukila Amal, focus on women’s issues and female efforts toward personal, social, and political equality.

Many literary critics and historians have noted that, despite its great variety and abundance, Indonesian literature has not spread as far beyond its native lands as might have been expected. Some critics have suggested that outsiders have little knowledge of, or interest in, Indonesia that would inspire them to embrace its literature. A lack of familiar touchpoints with Western civilization can create a sense of disconnect. Outsiders who have studied or translated Indonesian writing typically focus on literature about key events, often calamities such as war and natural disaster, which do not fully reflect the true richness of the archipelago’s cultures, histories, or writing traditions.

Bibliography

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Doughty, Louise. “‘17,000 Islands of Imagination’: Discovering Indonesian Literature.” The Guardian, 28 May 2016, www.theguardian.com/books/2016/may/28/why-isnt-more-indonesia-literature-translated-english. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

Fuller, Andy. “Words Without Borders and the Idea of Indonesian Literature.” Words Without Borders, 12 Mar. 2009, www.wordswithoutborders.org/dispatches/article/words-without-borders-and-the-idea-of-indonesian-literature. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

Indirani, Feby, Annabel Gallop, and Georgina Godwin. “Indonesian literature—History, Humour, and Language.” British Council, 14 Mar. 2019, www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/indonesian-literature-history-humour-language-religion. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

“Indonesian Culture.” Cultural Atlas, 2021, culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/indonesian-culture/indonesian-culture-core-concepts. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

Paramaditha, Intan. “Five Indonesian Authors You Should Read.” Lit Hub, 8 Mar. 2019, lithub.com/five-indonesian-authors-you-should-read/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

Toale, Jessica. “Reading List—Across the Indonesian Archipelago.” Medium, 17 Jan. 2020, medium.com/@jjtoale/reading-list-across-the-indonesian-archipelago-f878296b2fdc. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.

Tsao, Tiffany. “Why Are Indonesians Being Erased from Indonesian Literature?” Electric Lit, 11 Apr. 2019, electricliterature.com/indonesian-translation-colonialism/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2021.