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Alasdair Bowie |
Since purchasing and reading the Lontar
publication, Shackles (Belanggu), an unusual psychological novel written by
Armijn Pane, I have been convinced of the importance of the high quality
translations of Indonesian fiction and poetry that Lontar produces. Their
consistent quality (in comparison, for example, with translations of
Vietnamese fiction with which I am familiar, which vary greatly in quality)
suggests to me that Lontar performs an essential function in communicating
the soul of Indonesia to an English-speaking audience, whether the readers
are in a classroom setting, are reading for pleasure, or are seeking insights
as to the motivations of public acts of Indonesians that impact the global
community. The “window” on Indonesia that Lontar provides is invaluable, and
has no peer from other sources. For this reason, Lontar warrants generous financial
support from the international community as it seeks to build an endowment
that will facilitate the publication of the widest range of Indonesian works
in translation.
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Ann Kumar |
From an academic perspective, Lontar’s output is
phenomenal in terms of sheer quantity. But what is truly remarkable is that
Lontar has managed to produce so much without any sacrifice of quality. On
the contrary, Lontar leads the way when it comes to fine, accurate literary
translation of Indonesian works. This is an extraordinary feat given the
all-too-well-known difficulty of finding good translators. Add to this the
high aesthetic standard of presentation for which Lontar books are justly
famous, and you have an achievement of the utmost rarity in academic
publishing anywhere and one that is simply incredible for a publisher located
in Indonesia, where infrastructure, facilities and services present far more
problems than in the developed world. The Lontar team deserve the greatest
praise for an achievement that exceeds all realistic, or even optimistic,
expectations. The political importance of Lontar’s work also
deserves mention. The image of Indonesia that emerges from press coverage is
of a country with serious governance and economic problems and a nest of
fanatic terrorists. Indonesia is so much more than that, and it is of great
importance to the relationship between Indonesia and the West that this be
better understood.
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Annabel Teh Gallop |
Lontar’s vision, commitment, imagination and –
most importantly – its ability to sustain productivity and coherence over a
period of nearly two decades is impressive. So many people have good ideas,
which might bear fruit briefly before fizzling out, but Lontar has really led
the way in developing new outlets and forms of production that nonetheless
remain true to Lontar’s founding principles. As for Lontar’s fundamental raison
d’etre – the publication of Indonesian literature in translation –
the Foundation’s booklist and range of genres (novels, short stories, dramas,
poetry, and even works of traditional Indonesian literature in Old Javanese)
speaks for itself.
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Anthony Reid |
The Lontar Foundation has proved itself a unique
institution in the Indonesian literary scene. Indonesian writing, and
intellectual achievement more generally, has been seriously underappreciated
by the world outside the most creative measures we have, and the commercial
processes left to themselves have provided very few translations. Lontar has
become one of the most important windows on Indonesia for the rest of the
world.
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Arief Budiman |
I have known Yayasan Lontar since it was founded
and have followed its activities, especially through the books it has
published. I must say I am very impressed. By publishing useful and high
quality books, albeit not very marketable, Lontar has played an important
role for the Indonesian young generation as the intellectual stimulation this
generation badly needs. ... Lontar an indispensable institution for the
present Indonesian modern society.
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Barbara Hatley |
I express my deep appreciation for the
contribution of the Lontar Foundation in making works of Indonesian
literature, both modern and traditional, accessible to English speaking
readers. Besides the enjoyment I’ve received personally from Lontar’s
publications, both of modern literature and translations from regional
literary traditions, I draw on them constantly in teaching. Works in translation are invaluable, even for
students of Indonesian language, in speeding up the process of engaging with
and appreciating Indonesian literature. They encourage students to get
through the frustrating early stages of language learning, spur them on to
point where all that great literature out there in Indonesian is accessible
to them. For students in comparative literature or Asian culture classes, who
do not have Indonesian language, the translations are, of course, essential.
In classes in Asian Studies units, for example, it’s wonderful to have the
possibility of directing students to short stories from the Menagerie
collections, to get a sense of how life feels in Indonesia. I look forward to many more excellent
publications - and films as well!
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Barbara Watson Andaya |
All those anxious to promote a greater global
knowledge of Indonesian culture and history must remain deeply indebted to
the Lontar foundation. Its translations of significant Indonesian works has
provided a substantial corpus of publications that highlight often neglected
areas of Indonesia’s literary achievements, and make important writings more
accessible to Western audiences. While the output since Lontar was
established in 1987 is impressive, any observer must also be struck by the
high quality of production and technical presentation; books such as
Illuminations and Golden Letters are truly collector’s pieces, offering a wealth
of visual images that are not only visually exquisite, but are also a
marvelous resource for teachers. The range of topics covered is another major
strength of the Lontar publications. Besides translations of novels, drama
and poetry, we find valuable non-fiction works and primary material like the
memoirs of female prisoners and a history of the Indonesian cinema. Included
in the Lontar list are several books that were originally written in English,
selected or commissioned to explore aspects of the Indonesia’s literary and
cultural tradition. In demonstrating genuine collaboration between Western
scholars and Indonesian colleagues, they stand as a testimony to the
cross-cultural understanding that inspires the Lontar vision. The Lontar heritage represents one of the great
assets of Indonesian studies, and its maintenance and expansion into the
twenty-first century should be a major priority for all admirers of
Indonesian cultures.
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Bernard Sellato |
I have only praise for Lontar and its
board's unfailing enthusiasm for and dedication to Indonesian literature and,
more broadly, Indonesian culture. Their sustained ability to produce scores
of high-quality books, not to mention films, that reflect the wealth and
variety of Indonesian culture is admirable. I deeply believe that Lontar has
done more than any other organization to promote Indonesian culture
worldwide. Lontar's role has been, is, and will remain crucial "on the
road ahead". Both Indonesia and we from "the West" are
indebted to Lontar.
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C.W. Watson |
I am a great admirer of the Lontar Foundation
which has over the years provided an important service in introducing
Indonesian writers to a large international public interested in knowing
about Indonesian literature and comparing it with the literature of other
countries, As someone who has been teaching SE Asian Studies
for over twenty five years I know that my students here in Britain derive
enormous pleasure from the literature in translation which they read and
their comments to me have indicated how valuable that reading is as a
complement to their social science studies. They have frequently asked me to
point hem in the direction of further work translated from the Indonesian and
I have regretfully had to inform them that in fact the number of translations
is severely limited. While it is true that some commercial publishers have
now begun to pout out translations, especially the work of Pramoedya Ananta
Toer which is now universally known, there is in fact still very little of
the wealth of modern material available. Lontar in this respect has contributed
substantially to the cause of promoting Indonesian culture and literature to
a wide audience. The quality of translations is always high and the range of
subjects and genres which are covered are of wide appeal. I would like to see
Lontar doing much more to promote Indonesian writing and perhaps extending
its remit to ethnography and history as well as literature in regional
languages. To do this adequately it will of course require funding, and I
hope this will be forthcoming both to finance the commissioning of works and
translations but also to support marketing and sales, promotions and joint
ventures, and occasional workshops. Lontar has the potential to capitalise on its
reputation for excellence and it would be a great pity if that potential
could not be realised simply for lack of finance and managerial support.
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Cobina Gillitt |
I find it difficult to think of the most emphatic
way to express the enormous contribution that Lontar has made to Indonesian
culture and literature, both abroad and in Indonesia. Words are just not
sufficient to praise the quality of the work, nor to underscore the
importance of the work that Lontar undertakes. As a scholar of Indonesian
theatre and culture, no other organization has been as important to my research,
my teaching, and to my publishing career than Lontar. The quality of
translation and editing is unparalleled and so very important to bring
Indonesian literature to foreign readership. Within Indonesia as well, Lontar
has been able to bring focus upon otherwise neglected works and to preserve
the creative processes and thoughts of countless artists on paper and on
film. The most recent anthologies, including the Lontar Anthology of Drama
for which I was a volume editor and translator, brings together the most
important 20th century works for the first time and will introduce scores of
people (general readership, college students, etc.) to a canon of Indonesian
literature. For me and my colleagues who teach Indonesian theatre and/or
literature, Lontar's translations are invaluable. There is no other
organization who has undertaken this kind of work and to the degree of
quality and professionalism as Lontar.
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Daniel Perret |
Yayasan Lontar
deserves special praise for its dynamism and its efforts to promote Indonesia through the translation and publication
of works on Indonesian literature and culture. The originality of its high
quality works and publications makes of Yayasan Lontar a must in the cultural
landscape of Indonesia.
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David Reeve |
Lontar has an unmatched record of work in publishing, translation and film. It has been a wonderful success in its core mission, i.e., to promote Indonesia through the translation and publication of works on Indonesian literature and culture. As the head of Indonesian at the University of
New South Wales for 17 years (now just retired) I can personally attest to
the centrality of Lontar’s contribution to our teaching, across universities
and high schools across Australia.
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Deborah Cole |
When I teach my Language and Culture courses in
the United States, I ask my undergraduates on the first day of class to guess
the country where I grew up based on some clues. I start with, ‘It has the
world’s fourth largest population.’ No one ever guesses. I then ask, ‘It’s
the world’s third largest democracy.’ Still no guesses. Occasionally after
the last clue ‘It has the world’s largest Muslim population’ one person in
the class will say ‘Indonesia.’ It is hard to blame these students for their
ignorance. Most university libraries in the U.S. have little on Indonesia and
no books of Indonesian literature in their collections. Through Lontar’s
work, Indonesia is reaching Western readers not as a tourist destination or
center of political unrest but as a nation where poets and playwrights and
novelists struggle to understand and improve the human condition of our time.
A major theme articulated by many voices in contemporary Indonesian
literature is the celebration of linguistic, ethnic, and religious diversity.
This theme is resoundingly relevant now during expanding and hegemonizing
globalization. Without Lontar’s endeavors to make real Indonesian voices
audible to English-speaking interlocutors, Western audiences are left with
only the diluted, second-hand representations of Indonesia put forward by the
English media.
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Dewi Anggraeni |
I was one of the people who welcomed Lontar into
the world of readers, and I am continuously glad for its existence and its
growing role in the arts of the region. Lontar has made Indonesian literature
accessible to international reading community and fora, by publishing
high-quality English translations of works by fine writers. Its endeavours
have been greatly appreciated by literature lovers, and Lontar’s name is now
known in the region as publisher of quality works. It is therefore very
important to maintain this position.
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E. Ulrich Kratz |
Ever since its inception the Lontar Foundation
has been an essential element in the dissemination of sophisticated knowledge
about contemporary Indonesian society and culture to an English speaking and
reading audience. The Foundation has been extremely successful and perceptive
in conveying an image of Indonesian society and culture which takes account
of diverse aspects of expression and which never pandered to the political
ideologies of the day, thus giving credit and appreciation to a wider range
of artists than the ideology of the day would entertain. Lontar has always been discriminating in its
choice of artists and materials and its publications are not only an integral
part of probably most Indonesian Studies curricula worldwide but offer those
in search of a genuine introduction to Indonesia valuable and sound materials
of high intellectual and artistic standard. Today, as a result of the pervasive lack of
discrimination in the West when labelling Islam and bracketing Muslims,
Lontar’s work is especially important. The work it does goes a long way
towards rebutting the negative type-casting that Indonesian
intellectuals and artists perceive to receive from abroad.
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Eka Budianta |
One of the happiest moments in my professional
life as an Indonesian poet came when, in 1991, Lontar published On Foreign
Shores
and Walking Westward in the Morning. I was very happy and proud to see my work
in print, beautifully translated and published by The Lontar
Foundation. I am proud of being associated with The Lontar
Foundation, for its strong commitment, hard work, efficiency and
effectiveness in putting the Indonesian cultural heritage to the world. I
think the On the Record series must be regarded as one of the best production
of films that promote literary works and figures.
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Elisabeth Soeprapto-Hastrich |
Everybody who is interested in exploring Indonesian literature and cultural traditions and in making it known within
Indonesia and in the English-speaking world will appreciate Lontar's
achievements in translating and skillfully publishing some of its finest
works. Being familiar with the publishing business in
Germany and in some of it's neighbouring countries, I would like to add one
aspect to the picture. Because I am sure that the availability of English
translations is the clue for literary agents/scouts and publishers who want
to get to know Indonesian writing.
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Gabrielle Lord |
The Lontar Foundation, with its high quality
books and its support for the promotion of Indonesian art and culture,
provides an essential and unique service. With little or no support from the
Indonesian government and limited assistance from the private sector, I know
how difficult it must be for Lontar’s staff to keep the organization going. Currently, Lontar is overseeing the translation
of a young Indonesian novelist's work for me, so as to give Stefani Hid the
chance to be published in English. It would be a calamity if Lontar were not
supported by every means possible. An emerging nation such as Indonesia needs
its voice to be heard.
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Helen Jessup |
I cannot think of an organization that has done
more for the stimulation and preservation of literature and the manuscript
arts in Indonesia than Lontar. It has given a real presence to a corpus of
writing, both ancient and contemporary, that is unique. It has stimulated
awareness of an important tradition of manuscript heritage among a younger
generation of Indonesians and foreigners. In addition it has raised
consciousness of Indonesian literature among English speakers. The Lontar
Foundation deserves accolades for its distinguished work.
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Henri Chambert-Loir |
As Indonesian literature is one of my fields of
interest I have been acquainted with Lontar’s publications since the
Foundation’s beginnings, and I have nothing but praise for its remarkable
activities in that field. Be it the translations of modern literature
(novels, dramas, as well as poetry), the numerous original anthologies (such
as the Menagerie
series) or the films about Indonesian authors (the On the Record Series), I
have always been struck by the originality, the quality and the boldness of
Lontar’s enterprises. In a field which is closer to my own research,
that of Indonesian scriptural traditions, the book conceived, organised and published by Lontar some ten years ago under the title Illuminations:
The Writing Traditions of Indonesia is remarkable in every respect. Not only is it
lavishly produced but it remains to this day the very best collection of
articles on this topic. Since its creation in the late 80s the Lontar
Foundation has set for itself the goal of making Indonesian literature
accessible to an international audience. This has been achieved brilliantly,
with a constant insistence on quality: quality of the texts, quality of the
books. Beyond this, Lontar has accomplished a considerable documentary work.
The Foundation’s printed, audio and visual archives already represent a
significant asset for the Indonesian heritage.
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Ikranagara |
The Lontar Foundation effort to introduce
Indonesian literature to the international public through translations is a
high-minded and serious effort that needed to be supported. |
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Janet Steele |
The Lontar Foundation is extraordinary both as a
foundation and the premier translator of Indonesian literature. Lontar has
done a remarkable job of fulfilling its mission of bringing Indonesian
literature in translation to English-speaking audiences. Through its
documentary films, archives, and most of all its books, Lontar has made these
wonderful works available to scholars, students, and lovers of literature
around the world. It is remarkable the Foundation has managed to do this all
basically on a shoestring. As someone who fell in love with Indonesia rather
late in my academic career, I am profoundly grateful to the Lontar Foundation
for giving me access to these wonderful works of literature. From Pramoedya
Ananta Toer to Goenawan Mohamad, the writers that Lontar have translated and
published are some of the most important in modern Indonesia. Now that I can
read the originals in Indonesian, I am all the more impressed with the high
quality of the translations. Lontar is not only the best in the business; it
is the only one in the business. I wish that I were personally in a position
to help Lontar out with a major donation. Given that I am not, I can only
hope that these words will be used to demonstrate how much Lontar has meant
to me not only in my career, but also in my reading life.
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Jean Couteau |
The Lontar foundation occupies a unique position
in the world of Indonesian publishing. Most books published about
Indonesia in English are either drab academic works or coffee table books
published for and written by the odd Western collector. They lack a
truly Indonesian perspective. Lontar books on the contrary aim more at
Indonesian English speakers than at Western expatriates. This goes along
with the evolution of our days.
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Jean Gelman Taylor |
Lontar publications provide an important means
for understanding Indonesia’s many cultures and societies, both for
Indonesians and for students and specialists in Indonesian Studies. I
regularly include Lontar translations on reading lists for students in my
courses on Southeast Asian history and specialised seminars in Indonesian
history. My own knowledge of Indonesia is furthered by Lontar publications. I
would also like to note in appreciation the cooperation of Lontar officials
with foreign scholars.
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Jody Diamond Senior Lecturer in Asian and Middle Eastern
Studies, Dartmouth College |
Lontar's clear mission, high standards, and deep
dedication has resulted in some of the finest translations of Indonesian
literature, poetry, essays, and oral arts, I have ever seen. As I have watched Lontar's projects develop over
the years, I have been consistently impressed with the quality of both the
source, the mediators, and the output—all built on a foundation of tremendous
mutual respect and agreed-upon goals. There is always a sense that the spirit
of the artist is present, and that the translator(s) had significant
knowledge of not only the writer or artist, but of the culture as well. To my
mind, this context is essential for successful work in this area. As director of the American Gamelan Institute, I
have made an effort to assist Lontar in letting the world know about their
exceptional work. And yet, what seems most important—to me, to the world at
large, and perhaps to Lontar as well—is that the translation itself exists.
The very act of bringing these great works across the linguistic and cultural
pass from Indonesian to English is in and of itself a valuable and honorable
act; one that deserves every kind of support the world can offer. I would urge anyone to support
their work, and, in so doing, be part of a global community for which there is no peer.
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John MacDougall |
I know of no other organization that has done so
much to preserve past riches of Indonesian culture, and to promote
at home and abroad the vitality of its contemporary artists and writers.
Thank you, Lontar!
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Joseph A. Weinstock |
I have been involved with Indonesia for thirty
years, including undertaking MS and PhD research on Indonesia while a member
of the Southeast Asia Program of Cornell University. Subsequently I worked
for many years in Indonesia on bilateral and multilateral development
projects, and for the past nine years have maintained involvement with
Indonesia as a professional staff member of the Asian Development Bank. I
have permanent bonds to Indonesia in the form of an Indonesian wife and
family. Thus I am well qualified to judge and praise the work which has been
so diligently carried out by the Lontar Foundation.
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Judy Mitoma |
Having had contact with Lontar over the years and
having made use of the organization’s enormous resource materials, I think it
is safe to say that there is not organization like this in Indonesia. The
work Lontar is doing has become increasingly important as world tensions
increase and cultural misunderstanding surrounds us. Organizations such as Lontar are almost always
dependent on outside support. The important point here is that despite this
challenge, Lontar has managed to build an infrastructure, complete with
dedicated staff and office facilities. This can only be the result of
dedicated work and clear vision—assets whose value there is no way to measure
on a spread sheet. Lontar deserves all the support it can get in
order to continue its work. The broad base of influence that it has both in
Indonesian and the United States must continue and expand.
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Kathy Foley |
When one thinks of Indonesian literature in
translation, one thinks of Lontar and the service that Lontar provides for
scholars like me is enormous. Lontar gives access to scripts and works of
literature which are not normally obtainable, creating works which can be
assigned to students beginning their study of Indonesian literature. Lontar
help scholars to understand how the work of known authors fits into the broad
sweep of contemporary Indonesian literature. Lontar is also of great service
to important Indonesian artists by making their work accessible to the wider
world which is interested in learning about the arts and issues of these
Indonesian masters. The important literature, artists, and issues are made
accessible to a diverse audience through the foundation. I have benefited
deeply from the publications and buy them for the UCSC library. I assign
their translations to my students. Lontar is an important resource of
material on Southeast Asia.
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Krishna Sen |
Lontar deserves thanks for doing such a great job
of bringing Indonesian literary and cultural work to a world-wide
English-speaking audience. Even as an Indonesianist I often seem to come
across new literary material through Lontar’s translations. Lontar’s work is
unique in that it speaks both to the specialist audience and the general
public.
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Laurie J. Sears |
I express my enthusiastic support for the work of
the Lontar Foundation. I have been familiar with Lontar and it's mission
since its inception. As a professor of Indonesian history and culture, I am
always looking for works by Indonesians to use in my classes. Lontar's books
continue to fulfill this need, but because of limited funds, Lontar has only
begun to scratch the surface of the many riches of Indonesian literature and
drama that could be made available to English-speaking audiences. As a
co-editor of the new Critical Dialogues in Southeast Asian Studies Series of
the University of Washington Press, I hope we can work together with Lontar
in the future. Unfortunately, university presses are also very strapped for
funding these days, and we can only agree to joint-publishing ventures with
some substantial subvention. I have the highest praise for the works that
Lontar has published and I urge Ford to continue to support the work of this
most important publishing house. In these difficult political times of global
tensions and misunderstandings, the work of organizations like the Lontar
Foundation become crucial to the hope for international peace and
co-operation.
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Louise Mak |
We, [at the National Arts Council of Singapore]
are really impressed by the good work Lontar does in promoting Indonesian
literature abroad through the steady publication of Indonesian literary
titles in English translation and through a number of public events.
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Marco Kusumawijaya |
I am always impressed by the quality of Lontar's
publications, that aim at the highest standard of both content and shape. It
selects only the best works in Indonesian literature for translation. The
books are always of the highest standard of design too. The books that Lontar
originally conceived and produced, such as Illuminations, compiled works
by the best scholars in the field, and are so well presented. On the Record
is another work that I love so much. It is well researched. It is produced so
much in time too. I hope more writers are covered by this programme soon.
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Margaret Scott |
As a journalist, The Lontar Foundation and its
publications have been indispensable to me. It was as the cultural editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review that I first learned of Lontar's rich and
varied list. And, over the years, as I moved on to write for the New York
Times Magazine and the New York Review of Books, I have turned again and
again to Lontar for guidance and illumination. I would never have been able to write about the
importance of the writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer, both as a literary figure and
as a political figure, without Lontar. My Indonesian is poor, and so I have
gratefully relied on Lontar translations of the writings of Pramoedya,
Goenawan Mohamad, Y. B. Mangunwijaya, Ahmad Tohari and many others that have
directly influenced and shaped my own journalistic writing about Indonesia. It has almost become a cliche that Indonesia is
an unknown territory to Americans. Lontar's publications present a powerful
antidote to that cliche. And, as an observer of Indonesia, I have witnessed
the crucial role Lontar has also played within Indonesia during the country's
extraordinary transition since the fall of Suharto in 1998. Indonesia and the rest of us are lucky Lontar
exists. I hope The Ford Foundation continues to support this important
institution.
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Maximiliaan de Bruijn |
In a country plagued by illiteracy and the
enforced backwardness of thirty years of military rule, there are few beacons
of hope. In Indonesia one of these beacons has always been Lontar. In the
fifteen years that I have been doing business in Jakarta, Lontar has
published a stream of readworthy publications. Lontar has been visible.
Lontar has worked in a responsible way. I always feel good purchasing a
Lontar product. History and culture have since long been on the
losing end in this country. Lontar has always defended them and is still
fighting to improve knowledge and the love of culture in Indonesia. As a
writer, prolific reader, historian and scientist I fully support Lontar’s
fight.
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Meg Taylor |
Since the mid-1990s I have worked as an editor on
three Lontar publications and am familiar with many other Lontar books and
projects. I am deeply impressed by Lontar’s commitment to promoting
Indonesian culture and their professionalism in publishing books of
exceptional quality — both in scholarship and beauty. I was the editor for Illuminations: The
Writing Traditions of Indonesia (Lontar, 1996) and Voices of the
Puppet Masters: The Wayang Golek Theater of Indonesia (Lontar, 2002). I’m
presently working on Legacy in Cloth: Batak Textiles of Indonesia by Sandra Niessen, PhD,
the leading scholar in the world on Sumatran textiles from the Batak region,
which is scheduled to be published in 2007. All three of these titles are large format books,
printed in full color, with fine design features. The development and
production of books like these require large budgets and careful management.
John McGlynn, as director of publications at Lontar, was masterful in terms
of creating a working budget, putting together a team (editor, designer,
printer), fundraising, and promotion. Both Illuminations and Voices of the
Puppet Masters
have become essential references, and Legacy in Cloth is certain to follow. It
will be the first definitive book on this subject and is sure to attract
attention both in Europe and North America, where Batak textiles have been
exhibited recently in museums such as the Metropolitan Museum in New York; a
major exhibition of Batak textiles will open in June 2007 at Musée du Quai
Branly in Paris. Books like these would not exist without a
not-for-profit organization like the Lontar Foundation behind them. Lontar is
the only foundation that promotes Indonesian culture abroad. The world needs
to understand Indonesia, and what better way to know a country that through
its culture?
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Michael Bodden |
Lontar’s work has meant so much to me over the
past 15 years. During this time, as a Professor of Indonesian Language and
Southeast Asian Literature, I have taught numerous courses on Indonesian
literature. Needless to say, the resources for teaching such a
class were not always easy to come by. Lontar's efforts to
translate more Indonesian literature into English have therefore been greatly
welcome. In my classes, I have
used many of Lontar's books, including selections from the various Menagerie
anthologies, poems from Walking Westward in the Morning, Armin
Pane's Shackles, Mangunwijaya's Weaverbirds,
Ahmad Tohari's The Dancer trilogy, Seno Gumira
Ajidarma's Jazz, Perfume, & the Incident,
Rinatiarno's Time Bomb & Cockroach Opera,
and Iwan Simatupang's Square Moon.
This term, I will also be using the wayang golek play translation, The
Birth of Gatotkaca in my Indonesian theatre
course. Before Lontar's publications began to appear,
teaching Indonesian literature and theatre courses would have been
immeasurably harder and less interesting for students and teachers alike.
Your Foundation's efforts have greatly expanded my ability to bring a variety
of fascinating stories and views of life from Indonesia to Canadian students. That was one of the reasons I agreed to become
involved in Lontar's project to translate and publish a three volume
collection of Indonesian dramas, which I hope will soon see print. As a
scholar of Indonesian theatre, and as someone who teaches a course on this
field from trance rituals to recent avant-garde performance, these volumes
will be an invaluable resource. I can't say enough about what Lontar's work and
existence have meant to me personally and professionally. I know many of my
students have had a much richer experience studying Indonesia and its
cultures as a result.
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Nancy-Amelia Collins |
Lontar has done so much to promote the knowledge
and understanding of Indonesia through its efforts to translate Indonesian
literary works into English and through its films. As a journalist, I have
found these publications to be profoundly valuable not only to my work, but
also to my understanding of the beauty and complexities of this wonderful
country and its people and culture. It is my hope that the Lontar Foundation will be able to continue its amazing
contribution to the understanding of Indonesia for many years to come.
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Pamela Allen |
In my capacity as
both a scholar and a teacher of Indonesian literature, I have relied heavily
on the Lontar Foundation over the last fourteen years. Even in Australia,
Indonesia’s near neighbour, there is a dearth of translations of Indonesian
literature, a gap which Lontar has done a lot to fill. In particular, I have
used the Menagerie series 1-6 and the On
the Record DVD series extensively in my
literature classes, which comprise both Indonesian speakers and
non-Indonesian speakers. My students have frequently commented on the high
quality of both publications. I am consistently impressed by the variety of
projects that Lontar has developed. I have the greatest respect for the
Lontar Foundation and I believe it has a vital role to play in the
dissemination of understanding of Indonesian literature and culture.
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Patricia B. Henry |
I have been an enthusiastic supporter of Lontar
since its inception, having bought a good number of its translations over the
years, while trying to do my bit in translating some works for them as well.
I teach courses in Indonesian Literature and Southeast Asian Literature in
translation here at Northern Illinois University, something made possible in
large part by Lontar’s high quality work, which I assign on a regular basis.
I’m especially pleased that, in addition to the important “classic” early
works by such pioneers as Armijn Pane and Idrus, modern and experimental
works are translated as well, providing access to contemporary Indonesian
language and culture. The Menagerie series in particular is a constant
delight, both for the literature – poetry and prose – and for the paintings,
cartoons and photography that help give some of the flavor of the vibrant art
scene of Indonesia today. It takes several years to get American students
to the proficiency level such that they can read Indonesian literature in the
original, and having access to Lontar’s excellent work is an inspiration,
both for my students and me. The fact that these are highly readable
translations, published in high quality editions, brings a degree of
accessibility and prestige to the works that is very much needed. (I speak
from the perspective of a member of a foreign language department where for
years I would hand out copies of aging mimeo sheets to my literature students
while those studying French and Spanish literature would have all sorts of
nifty stuff!) It’s important to keep in mind that Indonesian
literature plays a unique role in articulating national identity, as a
literature in a language that is not really a “native” language for most of
the people who speak it. This makes it of interest to students of
anthropology, history, and political science as well as those of language and
literature, and Lontar’s publications have audiences in all these fields. As
a language teacher, I’m especially fond of the poetry translations,
especially the bilingual editions such as “Walking Westward In The Morning,”
which I frequently make use of even for beginning students. Increasingly, others are following where Lontar
paved the way, and more is available now than ten or fifteen years ago, but
Lontar’s job is by no means done. Compared to other European, and even Asian
languages, the translation of Indonesia’s vast and fascinating literary
resources has only begun.
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Patrick Kavanagh |
I am an English language writer and editor.
During 2000-2003 I lived in Jakarta. Even before travelling to Indonesia, I
had already heard much about the Lontar Foundation and its remarkable efforts
to teach the world about the rich history and culture of that country. Soon
after arriving there, I was pleased to meet Lontar’s staff and to learn at
first hand about the high standards that they strive to maintain in the
production of their wonderful books and other materials. Over the course of
my time in Indonesia, those positive impressions were confirmed when I saw
how consistently, and how well, Lontar meets its own exacting benchmarks. There is no doubt that the Lontar Foundation is
one of Indonesia's precious cultural treasures, without which that country--indeed
the whole world--would be much poorer.
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Peter Ripken
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Because of my interest in Indonesia and
especially the literary developments there, I came across Lontar about 15
years ago. I was at that time impressed by the professional approach to
publishing and translation by what was in general a Non-Governmental
Organisation. In this respect, Lontar is by far better than many other NGOs
dabbling in publishing. Because of Lontar's unique profile and its
important role in promoting Indonesian literature abroad, we decided to
invite Lontar to the Frankfurt Book Fair 2005. We were convinced that Lontar
could at this largest book fair worldwide enhance its network of partners and
potential cooperation partners. And the presence of Lontar's
representative at the Frankfurt Book Fair has proven that the message
that Lontar has been spreading can also be heard in other parts of the world,
not only by those who are interested in Indonesia, but also by professionals
from various countries. We do hope that Lontar will be able to expand its
activities in the near future, and we also hope of course to see Lontar
present again at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
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René Teijgeler |
From 1994-1995 I
got a grant from WOTRO in the Netherlands to finance my research on the
material Dluwang. This is when I came into
first contact with Lontar whose written materials and photographs on the
production process proved to be essential in the early days of my research,
especially for my field work. Further, Lontar allowed me to make use of the
excellent photos without any costs and the results of my study were published
widely in the international scientific press. Lontar has done a
lot for the field of language and literature studies, and codicology of
Indonesia; it deserves a permanent spot on the scholarly map of the Indonesian
islands.
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Roger Tol |
I have been an admirer of Lontar for the last 20
odd years for a number of reasons and in various functions. Generally I wish
to mention its wonderful mission, choice of projects, meticulous editorship,
high standards of translation, and creativity in getting things done. As an
academic I am truly grateful of the many indigenous sources that have been
made accessible by Lontar’s publications, translations, and documentary
efforts. These are truly everlasting products. When I was KITLV’s Chief
Librarian I made sure that all of Lontar’s products are available in its
library. Currently, I am able to witness even closer Lontar’s activities and
understand more deeply the huge tasks Lontar is dealing with. This only has
increased my admiration for Lontar’s accomplishments. Lontar is an invaluable
asset for understanding Indonesia.
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Sidney Jones |
Lontar's publications have been one revelation
after another. I had no idea of the beauty of old Javanese and Sumatran
manuscripts and no inkling of the richness of Indonesia's photographic
archives until Lontar made them available. I read books by Indonesian authors
that I probably wouldn't have read in the original -- the Mute's Soliloquy
was one. There's no other organisation remotely like it in Indonesia or
outside, and it deserves all the support it can get.
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Teri Shaffer Yamada |
The Lontar Foundation, with its promotion and
publication of modern Indonesian literature, provides a unique service to
world literature. Because of Lontar, the literature of Indonesia is vastly
more represented in world literature anthologies than any other national
literatures of the region. I am particularly indebted to the Lontar Foundation
for its assistance in the publication of Virtual Lotus: Modern Fiction of
Southeast Asia
(Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2002), which I edited and which
received a Choice Outstanding Academic Title Award in 2002. In an age of decreased funding for cultural
projects, especially literature and the arts, I sincerely hope that the
Lontar Foundation is able to continue work on the outstanding projects it has
undertaken by the Lontar Foundation. We would be greatly diminished without
it.
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Th.C.van der Meij |
There is no doubt in my mind that Lontar’s
position in the world of translated Indonesian literature stands out far
beyond and far above any other international efforts to promote Indonesian
literature for a world public. The sheer variety of works translated and the
quality of the end products deserve our deepest gratitude. It is safe to say that without Lontar Indonesian
literature might never have existed for the English speaking community. Also
its other activities to put Indonesian literature on the world map, and to
keep it there, deserve our constant attentions and admiration. Lontar needs
to be cherished!
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Theodore Friend |
The Lontar Foundation is a rare oasis in a
thirsting terrain. It provides much needed images and language in
translation. And, more basic still:common sense connections between
Indonesian life and English speakers, helping those who would relate to the
largest Muslim population in our world of nations, but who need a generous
guide.
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Thomas Hunter |
One of Indonesia’s greatest “natural resources”
is its rich literary heritage. The products of the vibrant and ever-changing
world of contemporary Indonesian letters today take their place beside the
classics of a thousand year history of traditional literature in the regional
languages of Indonesia. The Lontar Foundation has been one of the most
important contributors to efforts to bring the riches of Indonesia’s literary
heritage to the attention of the English speaking world, and will no doubt
continue to play this role well into the future. This is a foundation that deserves
not only our praise and gratitude, but also our support. In addition to
making significant contributions to the larger reading public, the Lontar
Foundation plays an important and profound role in the fostering of
international understanding by revealing the essential humanity underlying
cultural differences and encouraging a dialogue among nations and peoples
across the face of the globe.
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Thomas John Hudak |
What Lontar has accomplished up to this point has
been a resounding success. Lontar’s publications and videos are particularly
important to three groups of people: ·
The
general public: Having lived and worked in Indonesia, I am always amazed at
how little the US public knows about Indonesia. They may have heard about
Bali, but that’s about the extent of it. Lontar’s translation and video
projects serve an important function by bringing to the public, at a
reasonable cost, important and accessible information from a part of the
world that’s becoming increasingly important. ·
Students,
especially undergraduates: I have used Lontar translations in the classroom
in literature-in-translation courses, and the students have found them to be
revealing and engaging. Without these translations, students would be denied
very particular experiences and ideas. But through these works, they’ve
learned to ask new questions, develop new interests, and look at the world in
entirely different ways. As a result, more than one student has sought out
other courses about Indonesia and Southeast Asia. ·
Researchers:
Lontar’s projects provide
academic and non-academics alike with materials that can be used in a variety
of different projects---literary, social, and political. The translations are
especially important to those without an Indonesian language background. I hope that Lontar continues to produce high
quality publications. I look forward to seeing and using them in the future.
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Thomas L. Cooper |
I believe strongly in Lontar's mission, and
support it with contributions of my own. Lontar’s consistent dedication,
diligence, enterprise and standard of excellence have made it into an organization with a record of distinguished accomplishment that speaks for
itself and promises much for the future.
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Tineke Hellwig |
I have nothing but admiration for the Lontar
Foundation and the many activities and endeavours it has undertaken to make
Indonesian works of literature and cultural production accessible to the
international world. Because of the Lontar Foundation students, scholars and
those interested in Indonesian literature and culture all over the world
(i.e.reaching beyond exclusively the English speaking world) can read the
translations produced and published by Lontar. For many years now Lontar has
consistently promoted Indonesian literature and culture outside of Indonesia,
not by solely focusing on translations of well-known authors (the "big
names"), but also by translating novels, short stories, poetry and
essays of lesser known writers. Their films on the lives of Indonesian
authors are also very important materials for use in teaching. During the almost eighteen years I have been a
faculty member at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, I
have regularly taught a Southeast Asian Literature in Translation class. I
would not be able to offer the students interesting Indonesian reading
materials in English, had it not been for the translations made available
through Lontar. Their Menagerie series as well as translations of novels and
theatre plays are excellent materials to have the students read or to refer them
to. Often I receive questions and requests about Indonesian literature from
the general public too, and I am always glad to be able to point them to the
English translations that are available, many of them from Lontar. Making literary works and cultural products from
Indonesia available to the outside world helps to create a better
understanding abroad of what Indonesia is about, and of how Indonesian
writers and artists express their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, views, etcetera
in artistic
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Tom Boellstorff |
I express deep appreciation for all of the work
the Lontar Foundation accomplishes. I have been conducting research in
Indonesia since 1992 and have published several books on Indonesian culture
and society, including The Gay Archipelago: Sexuality and Nation in
Indonesia,
which was published in 2005 by Princeton University Press. I have known and
benefited from the work of the Lontar Foundation as long as I can remember.
In an age where intercultural understanding seems to be decreasing, not
increasing, the work of the Lontar Foundation is absolutely indispensable.
There is no other body engaging in the kind of critical work the Lontar
Foundation accomplishes.
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Tuong Vu |
I learned about the Lontar Foundation and its
efforts to promote Indonesia’s literature when I was University of
California-Berkeley student and a Fulbright fellowship recipient there during
2001-2002. To be trained as a specialist on Indonesian politics, I was
studying Indonesian language and culture while conducting research for my
dissertation. I am grateful to Lontar because my study of
Indonesian culture benefited enormously from many translated works supported
in part or entirely by the foundation. Thanks to these works, such as those
by the journalist Goenawan Mohamad or by the famous writer Pramoedya Toer,
American students of Indonesia like me have the opportunity to learn more
about the thinking and the cultural world of Indonesian intellectuals.
Without Lontar’s tireless efforts to translate and promote literary and other
kinds of works by Indonesian authors, it would be hard for foreigners,
including those with some linguistic skills, to achieve an understanding of
Indonesia that goes beyond the stereotypes found in much Western press about
this country.
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Uli Kozok |
As a teacher of Southeast Asian literature in
translation at the University of Hawaii, the materials provided by the Lontar
Foundation, especially the Menagerie series and the DVD volumes of On the
Record: Indonesian Literary Figures are crucial to the teaching of
contemporary Indonesian literature in the United States. |
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Wendy Wolf |
As a publisher at Penguin, as an editor, and as a
reader, I have long thought that the work Lontar does to be
invaluable--literally, its value cannot be calculated, especially in the kind
of dollar-and-cents way we so often weigh the merits of books. People speak
of 'keeping alive' a literary tradition, as if it were some fragile hospital
patient or endangered botanical species--Lontar has done something entirely
different, which is to make Indonesian literature available, attractive, and
vibrant to a contemporary world. Lontar has extended the idea of Indonesian
culture, given it true life, and made sure it will stay alive for a long long
time. As the publishers of Pramoedya Ananta Toer in America, we treasure our
partnership with Lontar in extending the reach of Indonesian literature
around the planet.
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Will Schwalbe |
I've had the pleasure of publishing Pramoedya
Ananta Toer's extraordinary books in English, and introducing them around the
world: starting with The Fugitive, then the Buru Quartet, Girl from the
Coast, All That is Gone, and, of course, The Mute’s Soliloquy. I've received a lot of acclaim for doing this—but it was all done on the back of Lontar.
There is no way that any of this would or could have taken place without the
invaluable efforts of Lontar. My initial contact was through Lontar. The
translation was largely through Lontar. All the logistics went through
Lontar. And all the promotion and publicity relied on Lontar as a bridge to
Pramoedya, and to provide context to the world's journalists. As a result of these publications, Indonesian
literature came to the attention of the New York Times, The LA Times, the San Francisco
Chronicle,
The New Yorker,
and National Public Radio (which made This Earth of Mankind it's book of the month).
And that's just to name a fraction of the places that have engaged with
Indonesian culture and which never would have otherwise. Through our
publication, the books found publication throughout the world. And Lontar
served the same role in helping journalists from Taiwan, France, Spain,
Germany, Sweden and dozens of other countries engage with Indonesian fiction
and culture. And I was privileged to serve with Chris GoGwilt
of Fordham in co-hosting with Lontar the historic visit of Pramoedya to the
United States, his national tour of universities, and the conference on his
work at Fordham. I was also privileged to be part of the
extraordinary visit between world writers and Indonesian writers organized by
Lontar -- the groundbreaking Forum on Freedom of Expression that brought
Amitav Ghosh and Wendy Law-Yone and Hannah Pakula to Indonesia. This,
too, was organized by Lontar. And then there's all of Lontar's other activity
-- the filming of great writers; the books on art and non-literary culture;
the other translations. I really can say that if it wasn't for Lontar, my
life would be much less rich because I would have no opportunity or ability
to engage with Indonesian culture, which has been one of the great
joys of my life.
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William Frederick |
As a teacher of Southeast Asian, and more
particularly Indonesian, history for the past 35 years, and as someone who is
often asked by non-student types ranging from government employees to
businesspeople who want to ‘get a feel for’ Indonesian civilization, I
honestly can’t imagine what I would do without Lontar and its valuable publication
program to lean on. Lontar’s translations fill a critical gap in the
literature: I only wish there were more, and that they were more widely
available—those parts of the enterprise which take money. And I can tell you
that for decades students in my classes have had their interest in Indonesia
awakened by one or another Lontar publication. Just last Spring, an
undergraduate was captivated by Armijn Pane’s Shackles, and ended up writing a
long and searching paper about its interpretation...pretty remarkable for a
young man who 9 weeks earlier did not even know where Indonesia was! In addition to the translations, Lontar has been
of particular help in dealing in compelling ways with difficult subjects,
ranging from pre-modern writing to retrospectives on the Suharto era. These
publications, comprehensive and prepared by the best authors in the field and
superbly illustrated, are landmarks for the specialist as well as the
newcomer to the study of Indonesia. Again, I can only wish they were more
easily obtained. Even so, they are jewels in the library (and my own
collection), referred to again and again with great profit. To my mind, it is very important indeed that
Lontar be able to continue its efforts, which are important for Indonesia and
also for the outside world. There’s not just the understanding of a nation at
stake, but also the understanding of where that national and its culture fit
in the world, and how the rest of the world fits them. In these endeavors,
Lontar has set a proven, high standard, and deserves the kind of support that
will make its publication program sustainable.
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Wynne Cougill |
I have known Lontar's work since the
mid-1980s, first as a resident of Indonesia and later as an admirer from a distance.
Several of their publications grace my bookshelves. For me, Lontar has set a standard of excellence
that few other NGOs can aspire to. It is dedicated to preserving a body of
arts that might otherwise be lost, and it does so with unflagging quality and
attention to detail. In addition to leaving the Indonesian people with a body
of literature that it will treasure for generations to come, it has exposed
people around the world to these important works and has preserved them in
imaginative ways. Through its sensitive translations and lovely design and
layout, Lontar has made the works of Indonesian authors accessible to readers
of many nations and in a form that is itself appealing and lovely. Equally
important, it has given many wonderful Indonesian writers a wider audience
and income to support them in their work.
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Zack Rogow |
Lontar has almost single-handedly pioneered the
translation of the treasures of Indonesian literature into English. They have
presented a varied and extensive series of literary translations that have
opened the doors to Indonesian writing for the rest of the world. heir work
has been courageous in its presentation of Indonesian society in all its complexity.
The Lontar Foundation is an exemplary instance of dedicated and skilled
professionals making translation a key to international understanding and
crosscultural exchange.
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Zulkifli Mohamad |
Over the years that I have come to know about the
Lontar Foundation and what they do, I have been very inspired and moved by
their dedicating to translating important Indonesian literary works. Over the
years, too, I have got to know not only those works but also the creators of
those important works, which made it more meaningful. I feel that Lontar is
now a permanent fixture in the Malay literary world—not just part of
Indonesia but the entire Malay world. I hope that Lontar will continue to
propagate the development of Malay literature and, above all, stimulate
recognition of the Malay mind. |