Roliflex aka. Tenyom aka. Avie ponders the future of Indonesian literature now that the great Pramoedya Ananta Toer has passed, and fears that the baton will not be passed to a female. Unless some things change first....

While the rest of the nation is disoriented, the great Indonesian writer must push further against the dark. Like Pram who knew exactly what his Indonesia was (whether real or imaginary), she has to re-invent Indonesia in herself. What is Indonesia, after all, if not fiction?

That a darkness must be pushed against I wholeheartedly agree.

We at the Sacred Bridge Foundation have always thought that culturally speaking, Indonesia's biggest problem as a culture is one of identity. Personally speaking, despite Indonesia being an entity forced into being by the forces of historical necessity, it does not mean that we cannot look deep within ourselves (both as an individual and as a complete Indonesian community) to solidly define who we are as a people.

Avie's essay is a most highly recommended read, at least if you have even a merely slight interest in contemporary Indonesian literature.

Reference:
In Search of the Indonesian Writer by Tenyom