The author of "Karmila", Marga T, Passed Away

The legendary Indonesian writer, Marga T, passed away, Thursday (17/8/2023). His works are not only manifested in book form, but also translated into various platforms, such as films, soap operas, and songs.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

ARSIP KELUARGA MARGA T

Writer Margaret Caecilia Lee alias Marga T during her lifetime.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The literary world is mourning once again, as one of Indonesia's legendary writers, Marga Tjoa or Marga T, passed away at the age of 80. The author, whose real name was Margaret Caecilia Lee, passed away on Thursday (17/8/2023) at Cabrini Hospital, Malvern, Australia, at 7:43 PM local time. The sad news was conveyed by Anton Lee, Marga T's husband, on Friday (18/8/2023) via email.

Marga T is a popular novel writer since the 1970s. Several of his works have been adapted into films, soap operas, and songs. His legendary serial story, Karmila, first appeared in the daily Kompas in the 1970s.

Karmila was then recorded and published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama (GPU) in 1973 and was produced into a film in 1974 and entered the box office ranks at that time. Karmila was made into a soap opera in 1997. Other works by Marga T that were no less popular were Storm Definitely Passing (1974), Echoes of a Day (1976) , Not a Seasonal Dream (1976), and A Sprig of Edelweisss (1978).

His talent for writing has been evident since childhood. At the age of 21, he has written a short story called Room 27. In 1969, he wrote his first book about children's stories entitled My house is my palace. Until now, there have been 128 short stories and 67 books written by Marga T.

This woman who was born on January 27, 1943 is a writer as well as a doctor, so some of her works are related to the world of medicine. However, there are also several satirical novels and collections of short stories. His last work is a memoir entitled If Only and a collection of short stories entitled Sweet Memories Will Never End.

The novel also became a best seller, the movie became a box office hit, and its song (Badai Pasti Berlalu) became a hit.

Gramedia Retail & Publishing CEO Y Priyo Utomo still remembers Marga T's impressions of Gramedia Publishers when it was its 20th birthday in 1994. “Marga T wrote this way: It is undeniable that there is a special emotional bond between us. Because, the first book published by Gramedia was Karmila which was also my first book. If a publisher could be likened to a mother hen, then I would be the first egg to hatch!,” he recalls.

According to Priyo, before people fussed over multiplatform, disruption and monetization, Marga T's works were not only conveyed through books (print media), but had been translated into various platforms, such as films, soap operas and songs. His novel also became a best seller, his film became a box office, and his song (Badai Pasti Berlalu) became a hit.

"The literacy world in Indonesia truly owes to the figure of Marga T who has continuously written throughout his life," he said.

According to Ramayanti Budi Santoso, the editor of Marga T's works in GPU, Marga T is truly an extraordinary woman who is a milestone in the history of GPU, and perhaps even a milestone in the history of Indonesian literature.

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GOL A GONG UNTUK KOMPAS

The founder of Rumah Dunia in Serang, Heri Hendrayana Harris or better known by his pen name Gol A Gong, exhibited the books written by Marga Tjoa alias Marga T at his residence on Friday (18/8/2023). Marga T passed away at the age of 80. The author, whose real name is Margaret Caecilia Lee, passed away on Thursday, August 17, 2023, at Cabrini Hospital, Malvern, Australia, at 19.43 local time.

Be an inspiration

The founder of Rumah Dunia in Serang, Heri Hendrayana Harris or better known by his pen name Gol A Gong, is one of the many writers inspired by Marga T. Continuation of Karmila in Kompas > was his first "meeting" with Marga T when Gol A Gong was still in junior high school.

After becoming a writer, Gol A Gong met Marga T at a writers' gathering around 1990 at Kompas, Jalan Palmerah Selatan, Jakarta. Marga T, according to her, is one of the writers who has developed the best female youth literature in Indonesia.

“So Marga T is legendary, he was the one who introduced serial stories and novels for the first time in Kompas daily. After that, Ahmad Tohari, Eri Suhendro, and Remi Sylado appeared. At that time, Kompas with the story line was extraordinary," said Gol A Gong.

Rusdi Tjahjadi, the sibling of Marga T, stated that Marga T had been suffering from an illness for quite some time. Currently, the family is still coordinating the preparation of the funeral process. The temporary plan is that Marga T's body will be cremated in Australia. Marga T is survived by her husband, Anton Lee.

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"Thank you for all the sympathies given by various parties to the deceased from the time of her health until the end of her journey. I, on behalf of the family, can only pray that all the bonds of love will produce feelings of mutual love and forgiveness," said Rusdi.