THE LONTAR FOUNDATION
We are an independent, not-for-profit organization based in Jakarta, Indonesia,
promoting Indonesian literature and culture through the translation of its literary works
Against the Grain
By Suwarsih Djojopuspito
Translated by George A. Fowler
The Mystical Path of Badrul Mustafa
By Heru Joni Putra
Translated by George A. Fowler
The Lontar Anthology of Indonesian Drama
Vol. 1 Plays for the Popular Stage (1890-1960)
AUTHOR OF THE MONTH
S. Rukiah in 1987
Born in Purwakarta on April 25, 1927, S. Rukiah published her first literary work, a number of poems, in Gelombang Zaman. In mid-1948, she joined the staff of the literary journal Pujangga Baru as its Purwakarta correspondent, and in 1950 moved to Jakarta to become the journal’s editorial secretary. That same year also saw the publication of her novella, Kejatuhan dan Hati (The Fall and the Heart). In 1951 she moved to Bandung where she became editor of the children’s magazine Cendrawasih.
Tandus (Barren), her first collection of poems and short stories, was published in 1952 and won a national literary award that same year. Also that year, she began to write children’s books and published continuously in this field until 1964.
It is not known when Rukiah joined the LEKRA, the Institute of Peoples’ Culture, but at its first National Congress in January 1959, she was elected as a member of its Central Committee.
As a result of her affiliation with that organization, her books were banned following the overthrow of President Sukarno and the banning of the Indonesian Communist Party in 1965. Because of the emotional trauma she suffered in 1965 and the years following, she never wrote again.
Rukiah died in Purwakarta on June 6, 1996.
FEATURED TRANSLATOR
Isla Winarto is of mixed heritage (Australian mother; Indonesian father), with a B.A. Honours degree in Indonesian language and literature, and a Graduate Diploma in Education, both from the University of Sydney, Australia. Before moving to Indonesia in 1984, Isla was a Senior Teaching Fellow in Indonesian at the University of Sydney, and later a Junior Lecturer at Griffith University, Australia.
For the past 42 years, Isla has been living and working in Jakarta. From 1985 to 1996, she worked at USAID Jakarta in the Indonesian language training division, and donor-funded projects.
From 1996-2014, Isla was the Country Director of a company owned by Australia’s universities. Managing ten offices across Indonesia, she specialized in international education, scholarship and project management.
Over the years, Isla has also translated various literary works from Indonesian into English for Lontar. These include ten short stories and the novel Raumanen by Marianne Katoppo During her professional career, Isla also acted as interpreter for a number of distinguished guests to Indonesia, including Hilary Clinton.
In her spare time, Isla devotes her energies to non-profit organizations such as Lontar, the Indonesian Heritage Society, the Australia Indonesia Association, the Australia and New Zealand Association, and Soroptimist International.
“The Smiling Semar from America” (Semar Mesem dari Amerika) is a documentary film devoted to the life of Gregory John Churchill (1947-2022) and his love of Indonesian puppets. During his decades in Indonesia he collected more than 8,000 puppets from around Indonesia and other parts of the world.
The film was produced by the Lontar Foundation under the supervision of John H. McGlynn and directed by Eva Tobing.
Novel Against the Grain karya Suwarsih Djojopuspito bukan hanya berbicara tentang dunia pergerakan, tetapi juga kehidupan rumah tangga kaum pergerakan, tarik-menarik antara dunia privat dan publik di masa yang penuh gejolak. Novel ini boleh disebut sebagai novel feminis pertama dalam sastra Indonesia.
Mari bergabung dalam peluncuran dan diskusi “Perempuan dan Pergerakan”.
Jumat, 23 Agustus 2024
19.00 WIB
Komunitas Utan Kayu
Jalan Utan Kayu Raya 68H,
Matraman, Jakarta Timur
Pembicara:
Dewi Widyastuti
Isyana Artharini
Moderator:
Dhianita Kusuma Pertiwi
Registrasi:
bit.ly/Against_The_Grain
Acara ini terbuka untuk umum, tempat terbatas, gratis dengan pendaftaran.
Terselenggara atas kerja sama Yayasan Lontar dan Komunitas Utan Kayu.
Didukung oleh Dana Indonesiana – Kemendikbudristek – LPDP
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