Written by Tasya
While Indonesia only had its independence for 73 years, its literature already thrived for a long time. They were, and still are, influenced by traditional values, but they also play an important part in spreading awareness and resistance through our history. From the colonial era to reformation, our literature helped us shaped our countries and our future.
Sitti Nurbaya by Marah Rusli
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Arguably the most famous Indonesian fiction, this book is taught in schools even though we don’t have required reading. It tells the love story of Sitti Nurbaya and Samsulbahri, who’s separated when Sitti has to marry abusive and cruel Datuk Maringgih, to free her father from debt. Written during the colonial era, the story touches on colonialism, traditions, and arranged marriage. This book is also written based on the author’s personal experience, whose family disapprove of his choice of wife, forcing him to went back to his hometown to marry a local woman.
Tenggelamnya Kapal van der Wijk (The Sinking of van der Wijk) by Hamka
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Another one written during the colonial era, this story touches more on women’s position in that era and local traditions. Despite its controversial topic of against local traditions, this book was extremely popular and well-received during its release.
This Earth of Mankind Pramoedya Ananta Toer
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One of the most celebrated Indonesian writer, his career spans from the colonial era, Japanese occupation, and the first two presidents of Indonesia. His books are filled with social and political critics during the colonial and Japanese era, and despite initially on good terms with the first two presidents, soon his books were censored and he was imprisoned due to his critics. His most famous work is the Buru Quartet, which is a series that depicts the development of Indonesia nationalism movement.
Catatan Seorang Demonstran (Diaries of A Demonstrator) by Soe Hok Gie
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As the title suggest, this book is a collection of Soe Hok Gie’s personal diaries. As an activist, his diaries told in detail the harrowing years of unrest leading to the coup that lead to the fall of Indonesia’s first president authoritarian regime, Soekarno, and the birth of military regime of Indonesia’s second president, Soeharto.
Laskar Pelangi (The Rainbow Troops) by Andrea Hirata
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This heartfelt novel is set in an impoverished area in Belitung, where people barely made money for food, let alone school. We follow the story of only 10 students and their teacher in a school and how they struggle against poverty and remain hopeful for their future. As the story mainly focuses on children, there is a touch of naivety, hopefulness, and innocence in the midst of bleak reality surrounding them, and it’s not a wonder that this book became one of the most popular book in Indonesia’s contemporary literature.
Supernova by Dee Lestari
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Supernova is a story of Dhimas and Ruben, a gay couple who were studying abroad and promise each other to make a masterpiece of their love. In a country where LGBT+ rights is censored and not even talked about, Dee Lestari managed to write a series about it and made it a bestseller.
