Control your mind, love your body

I've just found out how precious the work of the late Indonesian writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer is. He was a candidate to receive Nobel in the literature category several times, unfortunately he didn't make it to get the Nobel Prize. But still, I admire this man a lot! His works are precious Indonesian contribution for the world, especially for humankind.

Life has been unkind to him. He had to face poverty, unhappy childhood back in Blora, Central Java. As a teenager, he did not attend high school, he did not get enough opportunity for school. But grew up as a very critical mind, courageous. He stands firm to defend the nation's poor, the peasants of Java by his critical writings.

The New Order regime (during Suharto's presidency, 1967 - 1997) banned all his

writings. He had accused as Communists (for his dislike of Capitalism probably), and sent him to jail, WITHOUT trial, for 14 years. His most famous, legendary writings are the Tetralogy (also known as The Buru Serie) of Bumi Manusia - This Earth of Mankind, Anak Semua Bangsa - Child of All Nations, Jejak Langkah - Footsteps, and Rumah Kaca - House of Glass. He produced this masterpiece in jail of Buru Island, that's why people also called these the Buru Quartet. Looks like the bars of jail did not decrease his guts, his fighting against injustice, did not prevent him from writing! What an energy!

My first fave book of Pram is Anak Semua Bangsa, or Child of All Nations. In this second book of the Buru Quartet, he showed the reader so much about the evil power, the Colonial Dutch-Indies (Hindia Belanda, now Indonesia), who tightened its grip on our homeland by not only power, but also the "evil protozoa", the CAPITAL! The colonial power had built lots of factories in Indies (now Indonesia), especially Java, to fund their Kingdom.   They've done this by exploitating local farmer (the Javanese farmer). The setting of the story was in East Java - a place where I spent my 4,5 years in college. So the places are very close to my heart, my imagination. The most common commodity in East Java was sugar cane. The colonial power had large factories in Sidoarjo area, the Tulangan village. The had developed the factory by forcing local landowner to an injustice deal. They rented farmer's land in an extremely low price, with the help of a local authority, the Regent and Chief Villages - the "local Royal group" (known as The Priyayi). Local people, who mostly farmers, didn't have any power to fight this. Their lack of education is one of the main factors why they cannot strike back. The only language they know, they can do, was physical, or traditional weapons. They only get used to physical language to fight.   In this case, they needed back up from the well-educated Indies (Indonesian) to initiate the systematic, grand strategy to strike-back.

By that time, most of the well-educated people of Indies are from the Royal family, the Ruling group (The Priyayi), who mostly has good, close relationship with the Colonial Power. Their "comfortable" position in the community, with lots of facilities, had prevented them from knowing so many insights about the real condition of their own people, their own nation. Here in this book, Pram's main character in the story's Minke – son of a Regent in East Java, a well-educated journalist who didn't even write in Malayan language, his own mother tongue. The story's mainly about Minke's dillema, about his obsession of being a great journalist who wrote in Dutch and English, in a newspaper that very pro-colonial vs his passion to know more about his own people, his own nation, and helps the poor to strike-back for their rights. His writings have so much influenced by the ideas of humanity of his idol, his Guru, Multatuli a.k.a. Edward Douwes Dekker ( a real character ; famous humanist and writer of Dutch descendants, who concerned about the fate of the poor Javanese people. His masterpiece's a book titled"Max Havelaar"). Minke's surrounding, his French best friend, Jean Marais, had gave him so much ideas about the spirit of the France Revolution the principles of Liberty, Fraternity, Egaliter , that help him understand the very core problem faced by his nation. Japan's victory in Manchuria, marking Asian's victory against Europe and the status of the Japanese nation that's now equal with European nation, and also Philipine's people struggle against the colonial Spain under Dr. Jose Rizal, also opened his eyes of the new possibilities, a brighter future for his own nation.   That it's about time to rise against the colonial evil. He realized that in finding the spirit to fight for freedom of his nation, he had learned from his friends of all nations. Then he too realize that in order to make inter-nations friendship, he must learn to know a lot about his own nation.

I believe this masterpiece historical novel, is a "must read" book, especially to young Indonesians. We must learn from history. Never to let any "new form of colonial power" got its grip on us, and let me tell you this is very POSSIBLE, even already slowly but sure, happen in this beloved country. There's a saying : "One who does not learn from history are condemn to repeat it". Of course we don't want that!

What is very sad for me is that all of Pram's awards is received from outside Indonesia. He received Ramon Magsaysay Awards from Philipines, Freedom to Write Award from PEN of USA, Mandanjeet Singh Prize from UNESCO, and many more…None from the Indonesian authority or institutions! Well, I don't know why… I believe that a great nation is a nation who knows how to respect its great writers, for their contributions to inspire people, to tell the world a great story of their nations, right?

Although I'm sure Pram wouldn't mind any respect at all. He had the great times of his life. And his spirit will forever be rooted in the hearts of Indonesian people, especially the young ones.