Nationalism and Humanism in the Works of Pramoedya Ananta Toer

Reading Pramoedya's works is like tracing the footsteps of nationalism and the nation's struggle. There is a touch of humanism there.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

ISI Denpasar held a Bali Bhuwana Kanti seminar with the theme "Considering Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bumi Manu Budi" at the Citta Kelangen Building, ISI Denpasar, Denpasar City, Thursday (25/4/2024). Author of the book Pramoedya Sues, Tracking Indonesia's Footsteps, Koh Young Hun (right), explains his views on the figure and works of writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

DENPASAR, KOMPAS — literary works from Pramoedya Ananta Toer are not only full of nationalist values, but also full of touches of humanism. Reading the works of writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer is important in exploring Indonesian history.

This emerged at the Bali Bhuwana Kanti seminar, a series of international festivals held by the Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) Denpasar, in collaboration with Bentara Budaya Bali, Kompas Gramedia, Gramedia Pustaka Utama, and Gramedia Bookstore, Thursday (25/4/2024). The seminar which took place at the Citta Kelangen Building ISI Denpasar had the theme "Considering Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bumi Manu Budi".

Present as a speaker, literary critic from South Korea, Koh Young Hun. The literature professor from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies also wrote the book Pramoedya Sues, Tracking Indonesia's Footsteps.

As is known, Pramoedya Ananta Toer (1925-2006) was an Indonesian literary figure who was also a fighter during the independence era. The great poet was once imprisoned during the colonial, Old Order, and New Order eras. Because of his pro-Chinese community views and alleged involvement with the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), he was arrested and exiled. Pramoedya's novels and works were also banned during the New Order era.

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KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

A series of books about Pramoedya Ananta Toer, including the book Pramoedya Sues, Tracing Indonesia's Footsteps by Koh Young Hun, a literature professor from South Korea.

In his presentation, Koh Young Hun assessed that the imprisonment and isolation of literary figure Pramoedya Ananta Toer occurred because the government at that time did not yet understand or pretended to not understand Pramoedya's work.

"In fact, Vice President Adam Malik once said that Pramoedya's novel deserves to be filmed because it depicts the people's struggle," he said.

Assessing Pramoedya's works from only one perspective, according to him, will not provide a comprehensive understanding of the writer's thoughts. However, Pramoedya expressed his messages about nationalism and his views on humanism through those works.

Looking at Indonesia not only from its heroic side, but more from its human side. This understanding of Pramoedya directs us towards an understanding of true life, living for life.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

ISI Denpasar, Thursday (25/4/2024), held a Bali Bhuwana Kanti seminar with the theme "Considering Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bumi Manu Budi" at the ISI Denpasar Citta Kelangen Building, Denpasar City, Thursday (25/4/2024). Author of the book Pramoedya Sues, Tracking Indonesia's Footsteps, Koh Young Hun (right), explains his views on the figure and works of writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

He gave an example, in the novel Perburuan, Pramoedya conveys his understanding of nationalism and humanity through the character Hardo. This emerged when Hardo was asked for his opinion about the appropriate punishment to be given to Karmin.

"Hardo actually forgave Karmin because he thought Karmin didn't understand, or in Javanese terms, didn't understand wis dadi wong," said Koh Young Hun.

In Koh Young Hun's view, Pramoedya's works are on a par with the works of world writers. Not only in terms of quality, the total number of pages of Pramoedya's Buru or Earth of Mankind tetralogy is more than the novel War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. Pramoedya's books have also been translated into 41 foreign languages.

Nobel Nominee

From Pramoedya's direct statement, according to Koh Young Hun, the writer who received the Ramon Magsaysay award has been cited as a nominee for the Nobel Prize since 1981. However, this has never materialized.

"There were several causes and reasons, especially from the Indonesian government at that time," said Koh Young Hun.

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KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Bentara Budaya Bali Coordinator Anak Agung Gde Rai Sahadewa (right) gives a souvenir to ISI Denpasar Rector I Wayan "Kun" Adnyana (left) during the Bali Bhuwana Kanti seminar with the theme "Weighing Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Bumi Manu Budi" at the Citta Kelangen Building, ISI Denpasar, Denpasar City, Thursday (25/4/2024).

Koh Young Hun also mentioned that in the world of Korean literature, there has yet to be a great writer like Pramoedya in Indonesia. "I can say, Indonesian literature is superior to Korea's," he said.

As for the Rector of ISI Denpasar, I Wayan "Kun" Adnyana, he stated that based on his literary works and influence, Pramoedya is equal to a maestro. Reading Pramoedya's works, according to him, is important in understanding Indonesian history from the colonial era to the early independence movement.

"Looking at Indonesia not only from its heroic side, but more from its humane side. This appreciation of Pramoedya directs us towards an appreciation of true life, living for life," said Kun Adnyana.

Furthermore, Kun Adnyana stated that the Bali Bhuwana Kanti seminar event is part of the Bali Padma Bhuwana international festival, which is organized by the Denpasar ISI as an effort to build the axis of arts and design higher education in the Asia Pacific region, and towards the Bali-Global Axis on Arts and Design.

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