Journals Give Local Writers A Voice

Jakarta - Editions of both a poetry journal and a short story journal were launched at the HB Jassin Center for Literary Documentation in the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts complex in Central Jakarta on Friday.

Jurnal Cerpen Indonesia (the Indonesian Journal of Short Stories) released its 10^th edition, titled “Regenerasi: Panggung Muda Cerpen Indonesia” (Regeneration: A Stage for Short Stories from Young Indonesians), while Rumah Lebah (House of Bees) — a literary community based in the special region of Yogyakarta — introduced its new poetry journal, titled “Ruang Puisi” (Poetry Room).

The short story journal was published by Akar Indonesia and showcases the talents of young writers such as Fahrudin Nasrulloh, Dyah Merta and Wa Ode Wulan Ratna, as well as Jakarta Globe features reporter Dalih Sembiring.

Dyah gained recognition for her first novel “Peri Kecil di Sungai Nipah” (Nymph of Nipah), while Wulan was the winner of the 2008 Khatulistiwa Literary Award in the young talent category for her short story anthology “Cari Aku di Canti” (Look for Me in Canti).

The inaugural edition of the three-monthly poetry journal highlights the work of Saut Situmorang, Ahmad Nurullah and Riki Dhamparan Putra, among other local poets.

It also includes an essay on poems by Arie MP Tamba, an editor at the Jurnal Nasional newspaper; translated poems by the great American poet Walt Whitman; and a written discussion by Aslan A. Abidin, a renowned literary figure from South Sulawesi Province.

“Ideally, we would like to publish four times a year,” said Raudal Tanjung Banua, the editor-in-chief of Jurnal Cerpen Indonesia.

“But in our experience of producing journals, there are always obstacles: either the manuscripts don‘t arrive or the funding doesn‘t.”

Dalih, whose experimental short story “Ujung” (End Point), is based on Edgar Allan Poe‘s “The Tell-Tale Heart,” feels honored to be included in the short story publication. This is his second appearance in the Indonesian Journal of Short Stories, after “Ulang Tahun Priya” (Priya‘s Birthday) was printed in the seventh edition in 2007.

But even with his inclusion in what is considered by many Indonesian authors to be a prestigious publication, Dalih said, “I don‘t think the whole regeneration of short story writers idea is really going to be heard in the literary scene because there are Indonesian literary authors who haven‘t heard of the journal.”

Many at the roundtable discussion, such as writer and former journalist Martin Aleida, tended to agree. “Our own writers do not buy these books,” he said.

Independent publishers such as the Yogyakarta-based Akar Indonesia and literary communities like Rumah Lebah give fledgling local authors and poets a chance to have their voices heard, even if, as observed by poet Badri A QT, these publishers are eventually left behind. “Writers who have been given exposure by small publishers are immediately bagged by the larger publishing houses,” he said.

The HB Jassin Center for Literary Documentation houses a collection of Indonesian works of fiction, biographies, magazines, scripts, voice and video recordings.

Address: Second floor, Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki arts complex,

Jalan Cikini Raya No. 73, Central Jakarta. Titania Veda

Source: TheJakartaGlobe.com (March 23^rd, 2009)

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