Rosihan Anwar the Accidental Journalist

Rosihan Anwar is a colorful character. Born in West Sumatra on 10 May 1922, Rosihan writes poems, acts in plays and films and is able to speak about any topic under the sun at seminars and discussions. And, importantly, three-quarters of his life has been spent in the world of journalism.

He has been a journalist through many different eras: during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia, during the Sukarno and Suharto governments right up to the current Reform period. He started out working for the newspaper Asia Raya, then later started the journal Siasat and also the newspaper Pedoman. He has also taught other journalists.

Rosihan has been loved, praised, abused and cursed. He has also been silenced—not just once but twice.

Nowadays the place where he is most is the hospital. As of writing he lies in the MMC Hospital ICU in Kuningan due to heart problems. Rosihan is 89 years old but still writes. His latest book is in the process of being published. He also continues to speak out. In the course of two meetings with Tempo journalists Purwani Diyah Prabandari and Cheta Nilawaty, he described his life in detail.