Sindhunata, Kramat Tunggak and Pramoedya

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Senior journalist Sindhunata celebrates his 70th birthday with artists at Omah Petroek, Hargobinangun Village, Pakem, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Sunday (15/5/2022).

Encounters with commercial sex workers and literary figure Pramoedya Ananta Toer became key parts of the journalistic struggle of senior journalist Sindhunata.

At the age of 70, Sindhunata has produced journalistic, scientific, nonfiction, literary and spiritual works. Most of the works were born from encounters with simple, poor and marginalized people.

The journalist who was born in Batu City, East Java, 12 May 1952, started his journalism path in 1974 in Teruna magazine, Balai Pustaka, Jakarta. As a student, Sindhunata began to write articles and send them to Kompas daily.

One time, the editor rejected his writing, so took the courage to meet the then-deputy chief editor of Kompas, Pollycarpus Swantoro for a consultation. “Your thinking is too theoretical. If you want, just come with me to work [at Kompas],” said Swantoro.

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He accepted the offer. Starting in 1977, Sindhunata studied to become a professional journalist.

In his second year, the young journalist was given a challenging reporting assignment, namely to the Kramat Tunggak commercial sex worker (PSK) complex in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, with his colleague, Jimmy S Harianto.

Sindhunata never exclude himself when he was assigned to a place. He learned a lot of values when he met the prostitutes.

As a journalist and a Jesuit priest candidate, Sindhunata never exclude himself when he was assigned to a place. He learned a lot of values when he met the prostitutes.

One of the prostitutes shared that she had told her parents she worked in a shop for the sake of her child. Whenever she returned home, she dressed up like a normal person.

“This is very impressive to me because we aspire to holiness, but these people even sell, sacrifice their 'holiness' for the sake of their parents and children. Even a priest can't match them, selling what he has for the sake of his parents, and that's where they suffer," said Sindhunata at his 70th birthday celebration on Sunday (15/5/2022) evening, at the Omah Petroek Complex in Sleman, Yogyakarta.

KOMPAS/SINDHUNATA

Pramoedya Ananta Toer, a writer who was imprisoned on Buru Island around 1977, finished his works on an old typewriter.

During the New Order era, in the midst of covering the Buru Island political prison in Maluku as part of a media group, Sindhunata had the courage to separate himself from the group. In the evening, he infiltrated the prison in search for the exile camp of the writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

His journalistic instincts were right. He found Pram's residence.

“I was entrusted with cigarettes by Pram's wife and children. The touching thing was, Pram asked if his wife still loved him? And, I answered … definitely, I guaranteed his wife still loved Pak Pram. He looked very relieved and he wrote the story in the novel Nyanyi Sunyi Seorang Bisu Catatan-catanan dari Pulau Buru [The Mute’s Soliloquy, writings from Buru Island],” said Sindhunata.

The most challenging for Sindhunata at that time was when Pram asked him to bring a document out of Buru Island. "I have documents, do you dare to take them outside?" asked Pram.

Pram only needed two answers, yes or no. Without thinking, Sindhunata answered… yes.

Because he did not dare to hold it for too long, he handed the document over to a foreign journalist in Jakarta.

Being terrified and with a pounding heart, he slid the document into his briefcase. Because he did not dare to hold it for too long, he handed the document over to a foreign journalist in Jakarta.

Based on that document, in line with Pram's request, the foreign journalist wrote a report to the International Human Rights Institute. Shortly thereafter, he was expelled from Indonesia because of the report.

Humanitarian issues

Kompas editor-in-chief Sutta Dharmasaputra said Sindhunata had laid strong foundations for journalistic works. “Romo [Father] Sindhunata can combine intelligence, heart and feeling. This has no equal now," he said.

Sutta believed that if journalists worked in Sindhunata’s style, the media would not be disrupted. For example, in describing a football match, Sindhunata can see past and present dimensions with values that are not recorded by any sophisticated technology.

KOMPAS/FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO

Painter Nasirun (second from left) explains his painting to Former Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Susi Pudjiastuti (third from left) during a painting exhibition celebrating the 70th anniversary of senior journalist Sindhunata (left) in Omah Petroek, Hargobinangun Village, Pakem, Sleman, DI Yogyakarta, Sunday (15/5/2022).

Sindhunata's literary works also inspired the singer and founder of Jogja Hip Hop Foundation (JHF), Marzuki "Kill the DJ", to compose songs. Sindhunata's poems were incorporated into hip-hop songs that are very popular among young people. “Sindhunata's works have had independence. They can come up with new works,” said Marzuki.

Also attending the event were the Presidential Special Staff Sukardi Rinakit, former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti, the painter Nasirun and Djoko Pekik.

The album Semar Mesem Romo Mendem was performed by JHF on Sunday (15/5) evening. Artists, journalists, art connoisseurs and the public sang together at Yakopan Park, Omah Petroek, with the motto "Kita Berteman Soedah Lama” (we have been friends for a long time). Also attending the event were the Presidential Special Staff Sukardi Rinakit, former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti, the painter Nasirun and Djoko Pekik.

The 70th anniversary of Sindhunata was filled with various events, such as art performances, painting exhibitions and book launches. There was a total of six books launched by publisher Gramedia Pustaka Utama, five of them by Sindhunata.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)