Building Reading Passion and Culture Literacy Reconnects People

RIZA FATHONI

Children read books at Bale Buku in Dukuh Village, Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, Saturday (15/1/2022).

As public mobility was restricted due to the pandemic, people found themselves cherishing free time at home more substantially, some taking up reading literature. And they have since developed an affinity for literature. They become literarily empowered, even publishing books.

Dwita Utami (31) sent a photo of six books chronicling poems, short stories, fairy tales and other forms of writing. She made those creative written works together with friends she got acquainted with online through WhatsApp groups. During the pandemic hiatus period, Dwita learned a lot about writing and jointly published her books independently. "Two more books are still in progress," she said. She works as secretary of Tayem village, Karangpucung district, Cilacap regency, Central Java.

He had already developed a passion for literature, even before the pandemic. However, he found much free time to further indulge his passion in the time of Covid-19.

Mohammad Iskandar (43), who lives in Demak, Central Java, has also engaged in writing. The pandemic meant he was no longer able to continue his occupation as a roaming laborer. He had been to Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bali, Banten, West Java, East Java and Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara. He had already developed a passion for literature, even before the pandemic. However, he found much free time to further indulge his passion in the time of Covid-19.

He was able to accomplish a piece of written work during the pandemic and published a collection of poems called Lelaki Utara (Northern Man) and a book, Dua Mata Hatiku (My Two Beloved Ones). He wrote the book in collaboration with Riami. In another collaboration, Mois, as Iskandar is nicknamed, worked with two colleagues to write Harmoni Tiga Penjuru (Three-Direction Harmony).

Also read:

> The Book Tofu Movement in Remote Villages

> Resource Books of Lamaholot Culture

During the pandemic, he joined as many as 27 groups, mostly engaged in literary works. He has also initiated Kelas Puisi Alit, abbreviated Kepul, which is a WhatsApp group for young people having interest in developing their literary skills. The group’s members hold a gathering regularly to share their knowledge of literature.

The membership has grown rapidly from a dozen during the pandemic to a current 260. Although the majority of members are passive, the active minority is able to enliven the group with their consistently shared works never failing to draw responses from other members.

No less than 14 of the members have even written or finally written books, either individually or collectively. The group has now published two anthology books Pijar Sebuah Ruang (A Room’s Glowing Lights) and Manuskrip Bintoro (Bintoro’s Manuscript). "I see the members of Kepul developing stronger ties and becoming more united since the pandemic. More and more are writing,” Mois said.

The empirical data presented by Mois is congruent with the data at the National Library. At the beginning of the pandemic, as many as 249,914 publications were accessed. The number increased to 490,950 publications in 2021. In previous years, there were only around 280,000 to 398,000 publications. As of June this year, there have already been 209,876 publications.

Data at Aksaramaya, the pioneer of digital books in the form of the Moco application also show an increasing trend. Last year, when compared to pre-pandemic numbers, additional titles numbered 22,669; this year, there are 10,150 new titles. The number of people who accessed Moco's digital books via Ipusnas in 2020 and 2021 averaged 534,000. It has received 211,288 clicks this year alone.

Aksaramaya CEO Sulasmo Sudharno attributed the increase to the national literacy promotion program, which administers the proliferating reading sources. "Libraries are the most effective media in providing reading materials, and during the pandemic, digital-library users have continued to increase," he said.

KOMPAS/LARASWATI ARIADNE ANWAR

The literacy bicycle made by the team from SMKN 26 Jakarta was exhibited at the School Literacy Festival in Jakarta, Saturday (27/7/2019).

Independent publisher MS Publishing’s founder Isrina Sumia (35) said the pandemic gave birth to many new writers. They usually upload their work on social media and publish it on their own in term of financing and distribution.

MS Publishing has published 21 books since early 2020, which is an increase by about 36 percent compared to pre-pandemic. Isrina said she already had a list of writers who were willing to have their books published by her agency.

New agenda

The pandemic has subsided significantly, but the passion for writing that gained momentum and began to thrive during the pandemic is expected to remain alive. "We started writing during the pandemic. After the pandemic, we have to be more enthusiastic," Dwita said, adding she was obsessed with literary achievements. She harbored an aspiration to write a single anthology with the theme of local wisdom, culture and the natural beauty of Cilacap. She said she would like to visit each and every of the 269 villages in the regency to do research for her writing. Apart from that, she also wanted to build a writing class and library in the village. Literacy in the village must develop, she said.

Psychologically, there is a strong desire to tell stories. Writing a fiction because of [obligatory] work trapped me in the world of nonfiction.

Widjaya Harahap (65) is also nurturing a similar dream. After taking five writing classes and joining a collaboration in producing seven anthologies of short stories, fairy tales and poems, he is planning to publish his own book, for which he has completed 12 short stories. A retired civil employee, who is now actively engaging in the agricultural industry, said: “I am dreaming of a new achievement. The pandemic period has apparently opened up many opportunities for learning. Psychologically, there is a strong desire to tell stories. Writing a fiction because of [obligatory] work trapped me in the world of nonfiction.”

He hopes that within six months his book will be published. He prefers to publish books independently because he does not want to be tied to conditional terms.

Empowerment

Literacy passion has developed not only in Java, but also in several regions, such as Sumatra, Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. In North Sumatra, Fauza Qodriah (26) through Sumut Mengajar (North Sumatra Teaches) invites college students to participate in promoting reading habits among children in villages. The literacy awareness program has been carried out at some 400 villages.

KRISTI DWI UTAMI UNTUK KOMPAS

Cak Tarno is sending his customer's order book via an online motorcycle taxi delivery application.

In Enonapi village, Kei District, South Central Timor, Ningsi Selan (18) invites her peers to take up reading, and transfer the knowledge to their parents. She said the main goal was to disseminate knowledge about, among other things, parenting and gender equality. The teenagers there, she said, now had the courage to refuse to be married when they were still under 18 years old.

Meanwhile, the Lakoat.Kujawas community-outreach institution in North Mollo, South Central Timor, promotes literacy as a means social and economic empowerment through local wisdom. Their activities include development in literature, literacy, archiving, cultural schools and a food lab.

Lakoat.Kujawas’ founder Dicky Senda said that literature re-knitted the bonds between communities, as well as the bonds between them and their homeland. This writing class introduced by Lakoat.Kujawas is expected to bring the Mollo children to new perspectives about knowledge on life.

Children write fairy tales, fables, short stories and poems. The community has published six books, including Dongeng dari Kap Na’m to Fena (tales from Kap Na'm to Fena) (2018), Tubuhku Batu, Rumahku Bulan (My Body Is as Strong as a Rock, the Moon Is My Home) (2019). Several other books have also been written since the pandemic.

“Literature trains children to think critically and be sensitive to their surroundings. Meanwhile, parents who are still accustomed to oral culture have a positive view of literature,” Dicky said during an interview in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (8/6/2022).

In the book Tubuhku Batu, Rumahku Bulan, the children discuss the relationship between the Mollo people and nature. They see the nature as human body, with the forests likened to hair, water to blood and stones to bones. Such a perspective is expected to build their awareness about the importance of protecting springs and forests to the extent that they reject mining exploration.

“Right now we are in the process of translating stories in books into English and Mollo dialect. The children are translators and parents are language editors. This brings the tradition and [local] language to life,” Dicky said.

The Lakoat.Kujawas pushes the use of literature for cultural archiving work. This year, it has just finished a piece titled Surat-surat Tanah (Land Documents), containing recipes for typical Mollo food. In each recipe, there is a fictional short story based on a local narrative.

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

Kompass Gramedia donated books that were handed over to start a banjar library in Klungkung Regency, Bali, Sunday (15/10/2017).

Literature also plays an important role in connecting Mollo with the outside world. About 10 people from outside Mollo, made up of writers, artists and game designers, have mingled in residency with local people since 2017. They are Lucina from Poland, Royyan Julian from Madura and Iven Manning from Australia. Mollo people have learned about writing and other creative works from the visitors.

Now, they are trialing a paid residency package that includes a tour package in Mollo.

Literature also supports the creative economy. Before the pandemic, Lakoat.Kujawas held the Mnahat Feu Festival, a harvest season festival for the years 2019-2020. Now, they are trialing a paid residency package that includes a tour package in Mollo.

The pandemic may have brought hardships, but it also has given a blessing, with people gaining more time to read and write. As the pandemic is receding, that passion for reading and creative works continues to live on, empowered, and ready to reconnect many people. Literacy is the key.

This article was translated by Musthofid.