The wound is there, out in the open for all to revisit, deconstruct, and eventually mend. The wound I am referring to occurred in Indonesia between 1960 and 1990, one of our darker periods in history that remains a sensitive spot for many to this day. In the aftermath of a tragedy, preventing … [Read more...]
Essay
Rewriting The Nation: How Literature Challenges Biased Histories and Reviews Indonesia’s Silenced Voice
November 14, 2025 by
Indonesia’s history education has often been shaped by nationalist narratives, which can obscure the complexities and contradictions of the past. History reflects a nation’s identity, but it is often fractured and reshaped by the “victors” of each era, presenting a distorted portrayal and … [Read more...]
Re-Reading WS Rendra’s ‘Perjuangan Suku Naga’ (The Struggle Of The Naga Tribe)
February 21, 2024 by
A retrospective essay on Indonesia’s greatest poet and playwright during the time of President Suharto. “You got to have patience. Why Tom, us people will go on livin’ when all them people is gone ….. Rich fellas come up an’ they die, an’ their kids ain’t no good an’ they die out. But we keep … [Read more...]
