Remembering Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Remembering Pramoedya Ananta Toer
Reposted from the Sun May 4, 2006
You can tell much about a culture by how it treats its gifted and talented, and whom it honors and celebrates. It is for this reason that I am pessimistic about the future of our giant neighbor and kin, Indonesia.
Its gifted son, the writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, died on Sunday, April 30th, 2006 at 81, after a long illness. Vice-President Jusuf Kalla reportedly sent some flowers, about the only official tribute to this great man.
Pak Pram would have preferred it that way, for every time the Indonesian authorities paid any attention to him, he ended up paying dearly for it. It did not matter who was in charge.
The Dutch incarcerated him during the dying days of colonialism. Sukarno did his part in 1959. That must have hurt Pram immensely for he had the highest esteem for Sukarno for uniting that polyglot archipelago. Pram suffered the longest, and most brutal, when Suharto banished him to Pulau Buru from 1965 to 1979. Even when Pram was released from Buru, he was not free; he was under house arrest.
Suharto banished Pram for an indeterminate period, with no formal trial or charges. That reflected the contempt Suharto and his ilk had for the rule of law. Pram and thousands of others paid a high price for that callousness.
In his Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu (The Mute’s Soliloquy), Pramoedya paid tribute to his fellow prisoners. He listed those who had died, lest the world would forget them. It is a long and mournful list.
Knowing the appalling conditions, as Pramoedya so graphically chronicled, each of those deaths must have been unmercifully cruel. Whatever sins those poor souls may have committed, surely a Merciful Allah would look kindly upon them.
If the intent was to destroy Pramoedya, then Suharto had grossly underestimated the inner strength of this mortal. It reflects the Justness of Allah that today Suharto faces charges of corruption and possible war crimes while the rest of the world lauds Pramoedya. In his homeland however, they still ban his books.
Knowing full well that he was a writer, the authorities at Buru deprived him of pencil and paper. Undeterred, he would compose his stories in his head and re-told them repeatedly to his fellow prisoners. With each telling he would refine the language and narrative. By the time he was released, he had the full four-volume series completed, polished, and ready to be committed to paper. It did not take him long to complete that mechanical part of writing. He published in quick succession his Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), Anak Semua Bangsa (This Child of Mankind), Jejak Langkah (Footsteps), and Rumah Kaca (The Glass House) to international acclaim.
That was my introduction to Pramoedya Ananta Toer, through the superb English translations. I resolved to collect his entire works in the original Bahasa Indonesia; I am not there yet.
It is a sad commentary that I have difficulty getting his books; Malaysian bookstores do not carry them. Worse, their personnel did not even know who Pramoedya was. Shame on them!
Reading the original in Bahasa after reading the translated version did not in any way diminish the pleasure or anticipation, surely the ultimate tribute to the skills and fidelity of his translators.
Pramoedya was on a North American tour in 1999, sponsored by his American publisher. My greatest regret was not being able to attend his public lecture at Berkeley. It took intense international pressure on Suharto to release Pram for his international tour.
The University of Michigan may have conferred an honorary doctorate on Pramoedya, and the Magsaysay Foundation its highest honor, but no Indonesian or Malaysian university has seen fit to recognize this great figure of Malay literature. His works may have been translated in over 40 languages and enjoyed by millions worldwide, but they have yet to reach the Malay masses.
I am sad for Pram and his family; I am even sorrier for Malay culture. A culture cannot hope to aspire to great heights if it does not value the talented and gifted in its midst.
I re-read Bumi Manusia for solace upon hearing of his death. Pramoedya’s courage, passion and wisdom again came to life through his prose. A hundred years from now, not many very remember Sukarno and Suharto, but Pram’s writings will continue to touch the hearts of his readers. In our language, Pramoedya Ananta Toer was truly “Anak Yang Soleh.” May Allah bless his soul!
May 8th, 2006 at 1:31 am
you are right, its not easy to get his book here in Malaysia. I remember, I read ‘keluarga gerilya’ many years ago and thats about it. I cannot even find this book anymore in the bookstores. And all his books you mentioned, I never heard of them.
May 8th, 2006 at 3:29 am
God Bless You, M Bakri….
You have written something which is unfortunately not appreciated by many Malaysians….even by the majority….Malays themselves……
There is a lesson to be learned from Pram’s life-story… Literary figures can a do be manipulated by the establishment…. and there is a high price to be paid for this…..
During Sukarno’s Pramoedya was arrested mainly due to his criticism of the govt i.e. via Korupsi and Hoakiau di Indonesia…
But only arrested for 9 months or so….
But during Orba, Pramoedya was arrested again due to his involvement in Lekra (Lembaga Kebudayaan Rakyat) a pro PKI literary body…
There was some contraversy on Pram and his involvement in Lekra… Lekra promoted Sukarno’s ideology namely: manipol and USDEK…manifesto politik and Undang-2 Dasar 45, Sosialisme ala Indonesia, Demokrasi Terpimpin, Ekonomi Terpimpin and Keperibadian Indonesia…wow…what a list…. (it’s sure longer than our Islam Hadhari “manifesto”)….
This support resulted in the single-minded exhortation to support Sukarno among the literary circle. Those who do not support the ideology were targetted by Lekra and their henchmen….. many suffered….and many went to prison… many of these opposing literary figures were signatories of Manikebu - Manifes Kebudayaan…. good example is Mochtar Lubis..who wrote Senja di Jakarta which was banned by Sukarno. Mochtar went to jail during Sukarno’s time too…
Also, another Manikebu figure is Goenawan Muhammad, whose conflict with Pram is well known in the Indonesian literary circle……
How much did Pram contributed to the misery of those (literaries) who opposed manipol and USDEK is not fully known…. and perhaps it is better that this knowledge remains with Pram….
But there is lesson for all to learn….one must beware of the seduction of fame, glory and power by being an “official” literary figure…. this glory and fame comes with a price i.e. you must toe the line the establishement or else……..
The price of fame and glory has been paid dearly by Pram …with his incarceration by Sukarno ….and followed by Suharto’s even longer incarceration and banishment…. ironically for being identified as one of Sukarno’s literary and ideological icons……
And this lesson…like the Pram’s work has yet to reach the Malay masses…..
May 8th, 2006 at 4:12 am
I never heard of this Indonesian guy, left to languish in prison.
But who has not heard of Lim Kit Siang when he languished in prison without charge or trial - only to be released upon international pressure??
May 8th, 2006 at 6:42 am
Dear Dr. Bakri,
I enjoy reading your blog and have gained a lot reading many insightful
comments posted on it.
Until just now, I didn’t know about Pramoedya Ananta Toer. But think I am going to get a copy of his books, since some of his translated works are available on Amazon.
To Cinapek,
I don’t understand your motive in drawing parellel to LKS (even though personally I respect LKS as a politician with principle). Anyway, hope the following site will help you to learn more about the great Indonesian writer.
http://www.radix.net/~bardsley/prampage.html
Best regards,
Jin
May 8th, 2006 at 1:17 pm
As usual the “rumpun melayu” don’t appreciate the jewel in their midst. Pramoedya is a widely recognized in the west thus his works have been translated into many languages. Furthermore Bahasa Indonesia is quite difficult to comprehend as it is not widely used even within S E Asia.
Leaders usually don’t like people who are smarter than them or will only chose those that fit into their mold. Pramoedya’s thinking is ahead of his time and the Indonesian leaders can’t subscribe to his view of democracy. As such he suffers incarceration by subsequent leaders.
May 8th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
After a long silence ) in your discussion channe due to extended writing marathon on my research, I am compelled to share my feeling on this one, or forever hold my peace.
A fitting tribute to Pak Pram. It is indeed a great loss. He was of the greatest Malay literature and cultural figures. I too believe his influence and presence will remain for generations to come.
I wonder, with due respect, if his engagement in LEKRA and the likes, was due to sheer passion or was it a form of well manouvered complicity? Either way, the literary society would benefit more if such polemics is explored.
I agreed, most people I knew in Malaysia, coming from my environmental background, have not heard of him. Perhaps most had never read Keluarga Gerilya, having been put through the science stream at school. Only the ‘Surat dari Masyarakat Burung…’ by Usman Awang maybe, with the inclusion of Bird Corridor in 1984 KL Structure Plan as a possible result.
And sorry Dr Bakri, with the risk of being facitious, a typo on certain pub(l)ic lecture was particularly hilarious!
May 8th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Dear Rahmat:
Thank you for pointing out the typo. I have now corrected it.
M. Bakri Musa
May 9th, 2006 at 3:31 am
Yes…. Whether Pram’s engagement in LEKRA and the likes, was due to sheer passion or was a form of well manoeuvred complicity is open to the polemics…… However… the evidence against Pram can be obtained via the pro Lekra daily: Bintang Timur… Pram was the key figure in articles attacking writers who do not toe the PKI line…. In 1962-1965 Pram was editor of Lentera, the weekly section of Bintang Timur.
But why Pram was pro PKI… why did he join Lekra?
I would put a guess here….. in the context of the 1950s onwards…… Its a bit long so I put my thoughts in two postings… This is the first part:
First reason, Pram was motivated to join Lekra partly because of the “situasi kelesuan dunia sastera” in Indonesia…. Lekra was a creation of PKI….and it promised a radical break to the existing dominant literary ideas at that time. At that time Pram was clearly dis-illusioned bythe antics of Gelanggang…. a literary group (successor of Angkatan 45) in which Pram was a member… according to the story, the core members of Gelanggang is cynical to Pram’s literary concepts… in any case, Pram was not a core member of Gelanggang… and he was on the sidelines….. this may very well “pushed” Pram to join Lekra instead of remaining in Gelanggang…
Actually Pram was not in Lekra until 1959…. Lekra members persuaded him to join…earlier…Pram did help Lekra but not as member…in 1957 he cooperated with Lekra to work on Sukarno’s “konsepsi”….the term to denote an alternative to the failing parliamentary democracy in Indonesia at that time…… by 1959 Pram was on the executive board of Lekra…
May 9th, 2006 at 3:34 am
A second reason is money, wealth and position… Pram had a difficult life in the 50’s…. he had a divorce…. And virtually no money…. Joining Lekra which was close to center of power is surely one way to obtain material comforts which would entice any decent human being….. What ever it is one may read Pram’s bitter complain in his essay titled “Keadaan Sosial Para Pengarang: Perbandingan Antarnegara” published in Siasat (January 20, 1957). In that article he complained how low Indonesian writers were paid…… Contrast this with the praise Pram gave to Lekra writers which appears in the article: “Pidato Pramoedya Ananta Toer” in Harian Rakjat February 21, 1959
A third reason is related to the first – Pram at that time was attracted to the Communist struggle upon his “trip” to China People’s Republic…. It could be that his visit to China in 1956 and 1958 transfomed Pram’s intellectual outlook. This “story” of transformation mirrors the Minke character in Jejak Langkah (see the Buru
Quartet)… Minke developed a romantic relationship with Ang San Mei, a Chinese revolutionary… Minke married Ang Sen Mei… but this marriage ends tragically 3 years later…
This fiction mirrors Pram’s tragic love with revolutionary China…. Pram wrote Hoakiau di Indonesia, in defence of the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia…. This story was published as a serial in Bintang Timur …. And the result is Pram’s brief imprisonment by Sukarno… ( or is it due to the decision of some “counter revolutionary” elements in the TNI ?) …
Of course… these reasons are just mere conjectures…some things remains a puzzle….. in particular why Pram did not break away with Sukarno despite being imprisoned (albeit briefly)….. he could have denounced Sukarno…which may save him from being a prisoner under Suharto…… yet Pram still associated himself with Lekra and PKI (who supported Sukarno) until the very end……
May 9th, 2006 at 6:10 am
I believe Pram was a Communist.
May 9th, 2006 at 5:58 pm
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
KeriswieldingFanatic,
To me, Pak Pram was a human being with talent and concern for his fellow citizens. Thanks.
May 9th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
KerisWieldingFanatic,
I suspect you are a communist at heart… but who cares. Mao was a communist when he was younger but died as a diehard bourgeois. And ZengHe was a muslim… think about that.
May 9th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
Dr Bakri, the pleasure is all mine. I have a lot of trouble maintaining good writing, even when making comments about yours.
Amit,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and interpretation. Your explanation merits a form of ‘oratory’, and oblivious of the boundary of ethnicity and religionism (one may attribute communism and socialsm or existentialism as religion, but that’s another story).
I would refrain from arguing whatever he believes in, and we could only judge from what he did and left behind. We inherited legacies full of knowledge and aspirations!
In the spirit of this particular blog, everytime we write, quote or recite his writings, its prayer for his soul.
May 10th, 2006 at 3:56 am
Dear All,
Indeed, what Pram believed is an open polemic…. though the elements of his belief system is reflected in his writings… though we must be careful: Pram’s belief system had always evolved with time…
But to make things clear: Pram was never a member of the PKI. Of course, the Orba (Suharto) govt accused him of being a communist…
I understand why the Malaysian elites and the often narrowly nationalistic and religious literary establishments are at best ambivalent about Pram… after all Pram shouted loud and clear the words: “Ganyang Malaysia” during Sukarno’s manipol-USDEK regime…
But despite all these, Pram epitomizes the spirit of independence and the daring (or bravery) to experiment with new literary concepts. But more importantly, despite the changing and evolution of his literary concepts, Pram always put humanism and humanity as core values in his major works…. he always have this balance of acheving aesthethic autonomy, rationality and making literature as a tool to mobilise society*
….not many of the present day writers can reach the stature of Pramoedya Ananta Toer….
*perhaps this last one motivated Pram to join Lekra and the likes. But of course, this “experiment” ended abruptly after Gestapu 30 in 1965.
May 10th, 2006 at 4:16 am
Why are we focussing on foreign figures like there is no local to emulate and hold in high esteem??
We have our own Pram who does not shout “Ganyang Malaysia’ viewing Malaysia as a neo-colonialist plot??
May 11th, 2006 at 4:04 am
alahai Bakri Musa!!! Kenyataan anda meleset sama sekali! “His works may have been translated in over 40 languages and enjoyed by millions worldwide, but they have yet to reach the Malay masses.” Sehingga lewat 80-an (barangkali awal 90-an saya kurang pasti) Keluarga Gerilya karya Pak Pram ialah teks wajib bagi penuntut tingkatan 6 bagi peperiksaan STP (kemudian STPM). Kebanyakan penuntut memilih teks ini kerana pada zahirnya ia tidak setebal kayra Arenawati, Sandera.
Sebagai seorang *Scholar*, saya jengekel saudara tidak membuat kajiselidik yang lebih mendalam sebelum membuat tuduhan melulu. Atau apakah ini kerana terlalu mudah membuat *potong dan lekat* melalui sumber sumber agensi berita antarabangsa sehingga kedapatan leceh untuk membuat penyelidikan sebelum membina pendapat?
May 11th, 2006 at 5:52 am
Dear Valisa:
Making one of his books mandatory reading in Malay literature class at Sixth Form does not qualify for “reach[ing] the Malay masses.” Pak Pram’s books are still banned in Indonesia, and most of the efforts at bringing out Pram’s books are done by other than the Indonesians, certainly not the Indonesian establishment.
Try checking the local bookstores and libraries for his books. You will be surpised at the results. I have many queries from readers in Malaysia on how to get his books! I have a copy of all his translated (English) books as I can readily buy them in America, but not the Indnensian version.
I am flattered by your reference of my being a “scholar.” I was an academic once, decades ago, and I have a tremendous respect for scholars, but I am far from one.
Sallam,
Bakri Musa
May 11th, 2006 at 6:12 am
Ha ha ….. Valisa Iskandar is right to a certain point…
Actually during those times…. 60s, 70s….and 80s and well into the 90s… Malaysia acted as distribution center for Pram’s books….. Bumi Manusia was published by Wira Karya…
Also Pustaka Antara…yes…. just go to Chow Kit……
ha yesss….. M Bakri is “wrong” to say that Pram is a Malay… in Indonesia, the (suku bangsa) Melayu is a separate ethnic group… residing mostly in provinsi Riau and kepulauan Riau… Pram is a proud Javanese… not a Malay…..
Of course M Bakri is using the Malaysian definition of Malay….. this definition has performed an intellectual acrobat by lumping otherwise different ethnic groups into the category Melayu…..
But M Bakri is “right”… the circle who read Pramoedya works (and understand his literary concepts) in Malaysia is limited…..
There is however one notable Indonesianist in Malaysia…. Sumit K. Mandal… I think he is in IKMAS (UKM)….. but I know a lot more… but less notable of course……
And Valisa Iskandar is also ironically supporting M Bakri’s assertion…. “Kebanyakan penuntut memilih teks ini kerana pada zahirnya ia tidak setebal kayra Arenawati, Sandera…..”
So students read that work of Pram because it is not as thick…… mmmm
Ahhh…… Pramoedya telah pergi…tapi polemiknya masih subur dan tetap mekar…. di bumi manusia ini……. tapi bagi sebilangan manusia saja…… ha ha ha…..
May 11th, 2006 at 6:30 am
Comment accidentally deleted!!
Dear Readers: The writer of this comment (patched below) wrote to me privately saying that his comment had been deleted. I rarely delete postings except when crudities and profanites are invovled. On checking my “deleted” files, I had indeed found the posting that I had inadvertently deleted.
The only explanation I could think of was in doing my “mass editing” mode (to get rid of spams), I must have accidentally clicked this posting. Here it is, the origional comment that was posted on May 10 at 2:53 AM EDT. My sincere apologies to EshamSalam. I appreciate greatly and read all the postings and comments made by readers, and I learned a lot from them.
If your posting had been deleted, please let me know. If indeed I had intentionally deleted it, I will give you my reason. Thank you.
Bakri Musa
——–
Original comment posted on May 10, 2006 at 2:53 AM EDT
Esham salam writes:
salam and salutations,
The fact that the malay culture produce(s) such a prolific “anak
soleh”, to borrow your term, speaks volumes of the culture. Please do not
feel sorry for it. A literary masterpiece is often a product of the environment as much as the inspirational explosions and the intellectual dyanamics.
Environment maketh a man? Didnt we agree?
Nobody could take away the rich heritage Pak Pram has left behind, and nobody should attempt to hijack it either.
We do not want literary court jesters and yet we are equating the well being of a culture to the manner the Indonesian Government treated Pak Pram. I do not think it can be reconciled.
Is Keluarga Gerilya still a standard text in Sixth Form Malay literature, in
Malaysia? The assistant at the bookstore must have been a science student.
May 11th, 2006 at 1:01 pm
What’s the big deal??
Postings get deleted all the time. It is the right of the blog owner to delete anything he feels fit for whatever reason he deems fit - or without giving reason(s) for the deletion inadvertantly or accidentally.
To Dr. Bakri
If I may suggest, perhaps it is time you deal more with current Malaysian political issues - like the ‘forced’ resignation of Sharir Samad as Chairman of the BN Backbenchers’ Club, and the role of the CHief Whip in the Malaysian Parliament as compared to the role of the Chief Whip of the U.S. Congress or current issues like the 60th Anniversary of UMNO.
Or the life of its great leader Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj.
May 11th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
I see interest in this blog is fast waning.
May 11th, 2006 at 7:05 pm
As a Malay in Malaysia (and Javanese descendant when I visit Indonesia), and Malaysian wherenever abroad (besides South East Asian mark in New Zealand), I feel the ethnicity boundary slowly dissappearing, despite the great effort to identify with one’s birth venue.
Yet I agree, culture and government (governance) of a particularly region (or nation-state) and indeed interest is waning. If anyone is in Malaysia next week, why not drop by here;
> —–Original Message—–
> From: uminfo-bounces@list.um.edu.my
> [mailto:uminfo-bounces@list.um.edu.my]
> On Behalf Of abuhassanhasbullah
> Sent: Thursday, 11 May 2006 10:57 AM
> To: uminfo@list.um.edu.my
> Subject: [Uminfo] FORUM SANG GERILYA PRAMOEDYA
>
> Salam
>
> “Pramoedya Ananta Toer bukanlah orang asing buat bangsa Malaysia; kerana sekian lama karya beliau KELUARGA GERILYA menjadi teks kepada para pelejar di peringkat HSC dan STP di negara ini. Kehidupan revolusi manusia-manusia yang diangkat dalam karya ini bukan sedikit meninggalkan semangat dalam akal rasa dan akal fikir bangsa di rantau ini.”(muring-wien, 2006)
Seperti yang diberitakan, pengarang besar Nusantara ini telah kembali ke negeri mati. (Al Fatihah!) Sebagai asa meneruskan kesegaran hidup yang dibawa dalam karya-karya beliau maka Jurusan Filem dan Penyiaran, Jabatan Pengajian Media, Universiti Malaya dengan kerjasama BUKUONLINE.ORG (http://bukuonline.org) dan Yayasan Pembangunan Buku Negara (YPBN) akan menganjurkan forum “Sang Gerilya Pramoedya.”
Tarikh: 21.05.2006 (AHAD)
Tempat: Auditorium Sastera, Bangunan Baru Fakulti Sastera dan Sains Sosial
Waktu: 09 - 12 Tengahari
Ahli Panel:
Pengerusi: Professor Emeritus Abu Bakar Hamid
Pembentang: Sasterawan Negara Datuk A Samad Said, Dr. Talib Samat (UPSI), Azman Ismail (Utusan Malaysia, Pengkaji Pramoedya).
Semua dijemput hadir. MASUK ADALAH PERCUMA
Sekian, wassalam
Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah, Jabatan Pengajian Media, UM
May 11th, 2006 at 7:26 pm
Thanks to a despicable few who seems to take perverse pleasure in upsetting everyone in this blog. Their compulsive need to use filthy language reveal the hate so much in themselves that they need to tear others down.
There’s a saying, “when Divine anger ruins a man, it first takes away his good sense”. I tend to agree.
May 13th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
[...] usa wrote an obituary of the prolific literary Giant Anatoer Premoedyna Toer in the Sun. The article appeared again in his personal Blog and posted in many other e-gr [...]
May 14th, 2006 at 6:47 am
[...] putusan tentang kehidupan kanak-kanak itu. {Tulisan ini saya tulis pada bulan Julai, 2005. Kata M. Bakri Musa,Melayu tak kenal Pramoedya Ananta Toer. } [...]
May 14th, 2006 at 8:23 am
Dear So, Be:
Yes, you read the English translation, which is readily available here in America, through Amazon.com and other major outlets, as well as in Malaysia, in fact worldwide in the English-speaking market. Incidentally, the book is also in my public library here in California. Even some of Pram’s Malay books are available at San Jose public library but only in the research section, meaning, you cannot take it out.
My challenge to you is to find the original Bahasa Indonesia or Melayu version of that or any of Pram’s books in Malaysia. When you can readily buy or find them there, then my statement about Pram’s works not being readily available to the Malay masses is erroneous. I would be the first person to be happy if proven wrong on this point.
You have mistakenly represented yourself as the Malay masses. The very fact that you could read English and went out and bought a book (and a novel, actually a compilation of short stories, at that) already seperates you from the masses of Malays.
Incidentally, your essay was posted on July 2005, but your first comment on it appeared only on May 11th, 2006, a week after my essay was published in the Sun!
I am pleased to be introduced and thank you for introducing me to your website. Hopefully your writing in Malay will help spread Pram’s work among our people. I am delighted that your review of Pram’s All That Is Gone ( I think that was his last English translation anyway) is attracting many comments. That volume too touched my heart.
I was saddened that in an interview in 1999 or so the late Pak Pram indicated that he was not writing anymore. The sense of disappointment in his statement was palpable. Anyway, keep up the good work with your blog!
Sallam,
M. Bakri Musa
May 28th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
i just bought his book ” the Mute’s Soliloquy”
i’m speechless, one must read this book himself.
god bless Pramoedya. his might of pen might change the world.
August 28th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
Salam,
The first PAT (or Pak Pram as he is affectionately known) book that I read was The Mute’s Soliloquy. It was, to me, a very touching and moving piece of writing. Since then I have been looking for Pram’s books but ones which are in their original language i.e. Bhs Indonesia. I was lucky because I found several others in our local bookstore. I also had help from a friend in Indonesia. Currently, I am reading Gadis Pantai and waiting for several others to be sent from Surabaya. I also understand (from a milis) that some of Pram’s books are now republished. For those who have friends or relatives in Indonesia, perhaps you can seek help from them. Several titles including the Buru Quartet are already in the major book stores there but these books ran out very fast. All the best.