Ajip Rosidi
Encyclopedia
Ajip Rosidi, born on 31 January 1938, in Jatiwangi, Majalengka
, West Java
, is an Indonesian poet and short story writer. As of 1983 he has published 326 works in 22 different magazines.
As a child, he read numerous translated works in both Indonesia
and Sundanese
. He is also known as Poet Sunda. After reading a guide to writing, Rosidi began writing poems and short stories. His first short story was published in the children's section of Indonesia Raya
when he was 12. By the age of 15, his work was being published in local magazines. He was paid between Rp 25 and Rp 125 per piece, a considerable amount of money at the time. Two years later, he released his first collection of short stories, published under the title Tahun-tahun Kematian (Years of Death). He subsequently dropped out of high school to focus on writing. By 1983 he had published 326 works in 22 different magazines.
Rosidi's works have been translated into many foreign languages, published in anthologies or as a book, in Dutch, Chinese, English, Japanese, Perands, Croatia, and Russia. He has also translated many biograhies. He served as editor of numerous magazines, including Suluh Pelajar from 1953 to 1955, Prosa in 1955, and Sunda from 1965 to 1967. From 1964 to 1970 he served as the director of the publishing house Tjupumanik, along with the publishers Duta Rakyat from 1965 to 1968 and Dunia Pustaka Jaya from 1971 to 1979. From 1966 to 1975 he served as the head of the Association of Sundanese Writers.
In 1981, he served as Guest Lecturer of Indonesian language and literature at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies
(Gaikokugo Daikagu Osaka) in Osaka
, Japan
, Professor Extraordinary at the Tenri Daigaku, Nara
from 1983-1994, and Kyoto Sangyo Daigaku, Kyoto
from 1983-1996. While in Japan he also taught at the Asahi Cultural Center. In 2003, he retired and returned to Indonesia. In 2004, he became the general manager of Sundanese-language monthly magazine, Cupumanik.
On 31 January 2008 Rosidi released his autobiography, Hidup Tanpa Ijasah (Living Without a Diploma). The launching ceremony was held at Padjadjaran University. On 31 January 2011, he was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the field of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Letters, University of Padjadjaran. As of 2008, Rosidi resides in Pabelan, Magelang
.
, promoting the continued use of local languages and awarding the Rancage Sundanese Literary Award to works in Sundanese; he provides two other awards for works in Javanese
and Balinese
. He founded and led the research project and folklore Pantun Sundanese (PPP-FS), during the period 1970-1973. In 2000 he wrote Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Culture Sundanese. He encourages research on ancient Sundanese manuscripts. He asserts that from about 200 ancient Sundanese manuscripts found so far, only about 23 scripts can be read. Rosidi has expressed reservations regarding what he views as the commercialization
of culture, citing the existence of Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism as proof that culture is being sold.
Majalengka
Majalengka is a City in the West Java province of Indonesia the capital of Majalengka Regency.As of 2006, this regency consists of the 23 districts , all of which make up a total of 13 urban villages and 318 rural villages ....
, West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
, is an Indonesian poet and short story writer. As of 1983 he has published 326 works in 22 different magazines.
Biography
Ajip Rosidi is a prominent literary figure, writer, humanist, lecturer, founder and chairman of the Cultural Foundation Rancage. He is also known as the "spokesman" who can convey about the literature and culture of Indonesia to the outside world. Although he did not graduate, he attended the School of the People, Jatiwangi, in 1950; District VIII Junior High School Jakarta in 1953; and Parks Associate, Student Park Jakarta in 1956. He began his literary career since the age of fourteen years. Since 1952, his works began to appear in magazines such as "Indonesia", "Indonesia Pulpit", "Arena/Ploy", "Confrontation" and "Zenith Platform". From 1953-55, Rosidi served as editor and leader of the "Student Torch". During the years 1965-67, he became the founder and chief editor of "Weekly Sundanese", later refered to as "Madjalah Sundanese", which was published in Bandung. In 1962, together with writer Ramadhan KH, Harris Obon, and Tatang Suryaatmadja, he founded the Publisher Kiwari. During 1964-1969 he pioneered the Publisher Tjupumanik in the village of his birth. In 1968 he proposed Ali Sadikin, the then governor of Jakarta, to form the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ), in which he served as the chairman for three consecutive periods from 1972-1981. In 1971, he led the National Library Publisher Jaya (Jaya Raya Foundation). In 1973, Congress IKAPI chose Rosidi as the chairman of the agency. For the period 1976-79, he was re-elected for the same.As a child, he read numerous translated works in both Indonesia
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
and Sundanese
Sundanese language
Sundanese is the language of about 27 million people from the western third of Java or about 15% of the Indonesian population....
. He is also known as Poet Sunda. After reading a guide to writing, Rosidi began writing poems and short stories. His first short story was published in the children's section of Indonesia Raya
Indonesia Raya (newspaper)
Indonesia Raya was an Indonesian newspaper co-founded in 1949 by Mochtar Lubis. Before its permanent closure in 1974, it was banned numerous times by both the Sukarno and Suharto governments.-History:...
when he was 12. By the age of 15, his work was being published in local magazines. He was paid between Rp 25 and Rp 125 per piece, a considerable amount of money at the time. Two years later, he released his first collection of short stories, published under the title Tahun-tahun Kematian (Years of Death). He subsequently dropped out of high school to focus on writing. By 1983 he had published 326 works in 22 different magazines.
Rosidi's works have been translated into many foreign languages, published in anthologies or as a book, in Dutch, Chinese, English, Japanese, Perands, Croatia, and Russia. He has also translated many biograhies. He served as editor of numerous magazines, including Suluh Pelajar from 1953 to 1955, Prosa in 1955, and Sunda from 1965 to 1967. From 1964 to 1970 he served as the director of the publishing house Tjupumanik, along with the publishers Duta Rakyat from 1965 to 1968 and Dunia Pustaka Jaya from 1971 to 1979. From 1966 to 1975 he served as the head of the Association of Sundanese Writers.
In 1981, he served as Guest Lecturer of Indonesian language and literature at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies
Osaka University of Foreign Studies
, abbreviated to OUFS or , , or is a public coeducational research university in Minoh, Osaka, Japan. It is dedicated to area studies and the study of foreign languages and their related cultures.-History:...
(Gaikokugo Daikagu Osaka) in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Professor Extraordinary at the Tenri Daigaku, Nara
Nara
Nara can refer to:Geography* Nara, Attock, a village in Attock, Pakistan* Nara, Jhelum, a village in Jhelum, Pakistan* Nara, NWFP, Union Council of Abbottabad, Pakistan* Nara, Nara, capital city of Nara Prefecture, Japan...
from 1983-1994, and Kyoto Sangyo Daigaku, Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
from 1983-1996. While in Japan he also taught at the Asahi Cultural Center. In 2003, he retired and returned to Indonesia. In 2004, he became the general manager of Sundanese-language monthly magazine, Cupumanik.
On 31 January 2008 Rosidi released his autobiography, Hidup Tanpa Ijasah (Living Without a Diploma). The launching ceremony was held at Padjadjaran University. On 31 January 2011, he was awarded a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the field of Cultural Studies, Faculty of Letters, University of Padjadjaran. As of 2008, Rosidi resides in Pabelan, Magelang
Magelang Regency
Magelang is a regency in Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Mungkid. Its motto is Magelang Gemilang ....
.
Activism
Rosidi has worked to preserve Sundanese culture as well as other cultures of IndonesiaCulture of Indonesia
Indonesian culture has been shaped by long interaction between original indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Indonesia is central along ancient trading routes between the Far East and the Middle East, resulting in many cultural practices being strongly influenced by a multitude of...
, promoting the continued use of local languages and awarding the Rancage Sundanese Literary Award to works in Sundanese; he provides two other awards for works in Javanese
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
and Balinese
Balinese language
Balinese or simply Bali is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by 3.3 million people on the Indonesian island of Bali, as well as northern Nusa Penida, western Lombok and eastern Java...
. He founded and led the research project and folklore Pantun Sundanese (PPP-FS), during the period 1970-1973. In 2000 he wrote Encyclopedia: Encyclopedia of Culture Sundanese. He encourages research on ancient Sundanese manuscripts. He asserts that from about 200 ancient Sundanese manuscripts found so far, only about 23 scripts can be read. Rosidi has expressed reservations regarding what he views as the commercialization
Commercialization
Commercialization is the process or cycle of introducing a new product or production method into the market. The actual launch of a new product is the final stage of new product development, and the one where the most money will have to be spent for advertising, sales promotion, and other marketing...
of culture, citing the existence of Indonesia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism as proof that culture is being sold.
External Links
- http://www.penerbitkpg.com/penulis/detil/4/Ajip-Rosidi Ajip Rosidi
- http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/08/06/ajip-rosidi-a-great-man-culture.html Ajip Rosidi: A Great Man of Culture