Driving Regeneration of Writers

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Kompas chief editor Budiman Tanuredjo (right) hands an award to writer Muna Masyari, whose short story Kasur Tanah (Dirt Mattress) was chosen as the best short story of Kompas 2017. The award was presented at the Cerpen Kompas 2018 event at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Thursday (28/6/2018). The Cerpen Kompas reception was an event to express appreciation for the writers behind short stories in the newspaper. It was part of a series of activities for the 53rd anniversary of Kompas.

Amid the challenges of improving the literary interests of the nation’s youth, interest is growing in sastra koran, or “newspaper literature”, especially short stories. Writers are being regenerated.

Kompas editor-in-chief Budiman Tanuredjo said that the people’s great interest in short stories was reflected in part by the number of short stories the daily received.

“Several years ago, we received on average 10 stories a day. Today, we receive 15-16 stories a day, or 5,400 short stories in a year. This is despite the fact that our newspaper can only publish at most 50 short stories in a single year,” Budiman said at the Kompas Short Story Banquet, held on Thursday (28/6/2018) at the Bentara Budaya Jakarta culture space.

The banquet was part of a series of events held to celebrate Kompas’s 53rd anniversary. Kompas has anthologized selected short stories since 1992. The daily also presents annual awards to the best short stories in its Sunday editions.

This year, the short stories of 21 writers have been selected for the anthology, Cerpen Pilihan Kompas 2017 (2017 selected Kompas short stories). Writer Muna Masyari from Pamekasan, Madura, won the best short story award for her “Kasur Tanah” (Dirt Mattress), while short story writer Wilson Nadeak was awarded for his dedication to his craft.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Muna Masyari

Head juror Putu Fajar Arcana said that this year’s competition seemed more special, as four generations of writers were represented in the anthology. “We have Sori Siregar, Budi Darma, Martin Aleida, Ahmad Tohari and Putu Wijaya as representatives of writers 70 years old and above. We have Gde Aryantha Soethama, Indra Tranggono, Radhar Panca Dahana, Agus Noor and Triyanto Triwikromo in the second generation,” said Putu.

Made Adnyana Ole, Farizal Sikumbang and Djenar Maesa Ayu represented the third generation, while youth writers Muna Masyari, Faisal Oddang, Miranda Seftiana, Supartika, Wisnu Sumarwana and Rika represented the fourth generation.

“This shows that the regeneration of Indonesian writers is occurring and is being recorded by this newspaper. Sastra koran [“newspaper literature”] used to be marginalized. Today, however, newspapers have replaced formal institutions like universities in recording literary history,” said Putu.

Best short story winner Muna Masyari said that she began sending short stories to Kompas in 2010. Kompas first published one of her short stories just two years ago. She said that the award was a challenge for her to be more productive and to not disappoint her readers.

KOMPAS/YUNIADHI AGUNG

Author Muna Masyari holds an award bestowed on her for Kasur Tanah (Dirt Mattress), which was chosen as the best short story of Kompas 2017. The award was presented at the Cerpen Kompas 2018 event at Bentara Budaya Jakarta on Thursday (28/6/2018). The Cerpen Kompas reception was an event to express appreciation for the writers behind short stories in the newspaper. It was part of a series of activities for the 53rd anniversary of Kompas.

At the banquet, the Teater Mandiri troupe performed a play under the direction of senior actor Putu Wijaya. The play was an adaptation of Muna’s short story.

Consistency

Kompas has consistently published short stories over the past five decades. This consistency has been praised by men and women of letters who have contributed their work to Kompas throughout the years.

Agus Noor said this gave him great hope. “Apart from serving as some sort of a benchmark, the short story publications in Kompas also contributes to the establishment and preservation of literary values and traditions in Indonesia,” he said.

Senior writer Ahmad Tohari shared Agus’s sentiments, saying that shorts stories were more than just works of literature. They were also a means to educate readers and encourage them to better understand humanity. Works of literature, especially short stories, thus played an important role.

Apart from the Teater Mandiri performance, Balinese music group Dialog Dini Hari also entertained guests at the Kompas Short Story Banquet.