Bumpy Roads to Modernity
It is from novels that we get a different portrait of the revolution. Revolutions are not as sacred as romantics portray them. The objective is societal change, modernity, but the course is never easy or smooth.
The novels we have focused on delve into people’s angst and uncertainties as they move forward, having to deal with the old and new, between tradition and religion. In other words, the problems facing a nation hurtling towards modernity.
Among those authors are Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Idrus, Armyn Pane, Abdoel Moeis, Hamka, Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, only a few of whom we can feature in this issue.
May 20, 2008
Inflamed by the Revolutionary Spell
The story by Pram stands far above them, and more than any other writing, it is capable of forcing us to reconsider opinions and clichés about the revolution and ideas of nationhood and their connection with the youth.
Revolution is like a person burning trash. He is not merely throwing it out, tossing it someplace else or cleaning everything that is dirty or useless. He is clearing a space. Bringing the air
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