Books

Kompas/Bahana Patria Gupta

Booksellers serve buyers in the Science Village, Surabaya, East Java, Monday (8/2/2021). The book market in the village is a mainstay for residents to find cheap books and often are no longer sold in bookstores.

Some books have had a profound impact, far beyond the lifetime of the author and the boundaries of the nation of origin. Behind that success is a smart writer. Publishers, editors, librarians and bookstores also contribute greatly.

No less important is an educated reader, as well as quality translators and book reviewers. A book review – fiction or non-fiction – fascinates me more than the book reviewed. After reading it I rush to buy the book and read it thoroughly.

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Such reviews are not only filled with praise. The reviewer explores various things that are less prominent in the book he is reviewing, and associates it with a number of events or other books. He enriches our reading of the content of the book he reviews.

A book, and clever reviews about it, enlighten the public. They promote the quality of education, enrich languages, spur innovation and revitalize the publishing industry, bookstores and graphic designer careers.

The low interest in reading is not just because of the lack of quality reading materials.

Literacy campaigns require partners in various fields. What needs to be improved is not only the content of the book, the number of books and the welfare of the author, but also the whole intellectual ecosystem. The low interest in reading is not just because of the lack of quality reading materials.

We can learn from the video journalism work of Dandhy Dwi Laksono and his colleagues at Watchdoc. Their work is of high quality, yet what is even more amazing is their vision and work strategy, as well as the ability to build community networks. The result is not just a series of shows to watch together, but a social movement that can educate the nation.

Back to the topic of books, translation services are often underestimated. In the early 21st century, it is estimated that about 70 percent of books published in Indonesia are translations. Unfortunately, good translations are still rare. This is not the fault of the translators. The translation profession has not been properly respected, except in Japan.

A Japanese scholar has devoted his career to researching Indonesia, even marrying an Indonesian. I asked him why he was interested in researching Indonesia. The answer was surprising. He fell in love with Indonesia after reading Pramoedya Ananta Toer\'s novel in translation.

I don\'t understand Japanese. I have read the novel several times in its original version. The language is ordinary, although straightforward. Apart from the story, the characters and the structure of the story, what is great is the message it conveys. I suspect the Japanese translation is more beautiful than the original.

We know that Raden Mas Soewardi Soerjaningrat made fun of the Dutch colonial government in his writing "Als ik eens Nederland was" (I wish I was a Dutchman). But not many know the author was only arrested after the writing was translated into Malay. According to the prosecutor, he would not have been arrested had the writing not been translated.

DIDIE SW

Didie SW

Ben Anderson\'s academic work, which has extensively covered Indonesia, has had a worldwide impact. What is less noticed by the world, also in Indonesia, is his great service in translating various Indonesian works into English. The decline in studies on Indonesia abroad could have an impact on the world\'s understanding and appreciation for this country.

Lecturers in Indonesia often complain that it is difficult to meet the requirements to publish academic books and scientific articles in influential international publishers. The publications are usually in English. There is good intention behind the strict requirements, but such policy is too ambitious and unfair to the majority of our lecturers. Even in English-speaking countries, not all lecturers have succeeded in meeting the global demands.

A heavy teaching load, student guidance, meetings and administrative tasks have often been blamed for hampering the research achievements of our lecturers. But such a burden is also borne by their colleagues in other countries who are more productive in their scientific work. The difference is, in many other countries, the work of lecturers is supported many other related parties both in and off campus.

In a number of countries I can think of, the books, archives and data that researchers need are abundant and can be accessed easily in libraries. There, bookstores, radio broadcast, newspapers, TV, museums, theaters and galleries are the works of researchers.

All of this enables the researchers to maintain their concentration on their work for years, without being disturbed by national ceremonies or village events.

There are a lot of academic seminars. Leading visiting researchers from all over the world come to share their knowledge. All of this enables the researchers to maintain their concentration on their work for years, without being disturbed by national ceremonies or village events.

Over the last century, the academic world has been dominated by several countries. There, lecturers can take a sabbatical from work with full pay. During their six or 12 month leave they are exempt from teaching, mentoring or administrative duties. Universities usually provide additional funds for lecturers who are on leave to visit other countries for research.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Two students of SMKN 3 Bekasi City, Ester Arlenda (left) and Melani Putri open a book displayed by a mobile library car from the Bekasi City Regional Archives and Libraries Service parked on Jalan Guntur Raya, Bekasi City, West Java, Monday (14/6/2021).

It is unfair if Indonesian lecturers are required to compete with them, not only because of the limited facilities in the country or because they are required to read and write in a foreign language. Their research work is often limited by directives from superiors. Especially if there are a number of taboos, censorship or waves of criminal threats that haunt the freedom to read, research and write.

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In Indonesia, there are many competitions to compose songs or make films and write fiction and non-fiction. But how many long-term training programs are there in the country, from Sabang to Merauke, that can prepare graduates to become quality champions in these competitions? How much is the state budget for the development of cultural and artistic work?

In education, books are only one of many important elements. Education itself is only part of the universal development of nations. What we harvest will be equal to what we grow and care for in the long term. This is not only in agriculture, but also in the nation\'s civilization.

ARIEL HERYANTO, Professor Emeritus at Monash University, Australia

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)