Biography (Outline)

Pramoedya was born in Blora in 1925 in the heart of Java, as the firstborn in his family.
His father is a teacher, while his mother is a rice seller. Pramoedya's real name is Pramoedya
Ananta Mastoer, as written in his semi-autobiographical short story collection entitled Stories
From Blora. Because the Mastoer surname (his father's name) was felt to be too aristocratic, he
removed the Javanese prefix "Mas" from the name and used "Toer" as his family name.
Pramoedya studied at the Radio Vocational School in Surabaya, and then worked as a typist for
Japanese newspapers in Jakarta during the Japanese occupation of Indonesia.

Post August 17, 1945

During Indonesia's independence Pramoedya joined the military groups in Java and
was often stationed in Jakarta at the end of the independence war. He wrote short stories and
books throughout his military career and while imprisoned by the Dutch in Jakarta in 1948 and
1949. In the 1950s he lived in the Netherlands as part of a cultural exchange program, and
when he returned to Indonesia he became a member of Lekra, one of the left wing
organizations in Indonesia. His writing style changed during this time, as shown in his work
Corruption, the fictional criticism of the civil service that falls on the trap of corruption. This
created friction between Pramoedya and the Soekarno government.
During this time, he began to study the torture of Indonesian Chinese, then at the
same time, he began to deal closely with writers in China. In particular, he published a series of
correspondence with Chinese writers who discussed Chinese history in Indonesia, titled
Hoakiau in Indonesia. He is a critic who ignores the Javanese-centric government of the needs
and desires of other regions in Indonesia, and famously proposes that the government should
be moved outside Java. In the 1960s he was arrested by the Soeharto government because of
his pro-Communist Chinese views. His book was banned from circulation, and he was detained
without trial in Nusakambangan off the coast of Java, and finally on the island of Buru in eastern
Indonesia.

Controversy

Pramoedya received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the

University of Michigan in 1999, When Pramoedya received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, 1995,
26 Indonesian literary figures reportedly wrote a letter of 'protest' to the Ramon Magsaysay
foundation. They disagreed, Pramoedya, who was blamed as "Lekra's most fierce spokesman
and executioner, smashing, tearing, slaughtering and destroying" during the Guided
Democracy, did not deserve to be rewarded and demanded the revocation of the award
bestowed on Pramoedya.
But a few days later, Taufiq Ismail, as the initiator, corrected the news. He said, not
demanding 'revocation', but reminding 'who Pramoedya was'. He said, many people did not
know Pram's 'dark reputation' first. And the award of Magsaysay is said to be a faux pas. But on
the other hand, Mochtar Lubis instead threatened to return the Magsaysay gift awarded to him
in 1958, if Pram would still be awarded the same gift.
In their various opinions in the media, the signers of the 26th petition felt they were
victims of pre-1965 circumstances. And they demanded Pram's accountability, to acknowledge
and apologize for all the roles of 'not commendable' in the 'darkest period of creativity' in the
era of Guided Democracy. Pram, said Mochtar Lubis, led the oppression of fellow artists who
did not agree with him.
While Pramoedya himself assessed all his writings and speeches in the pre-1965
period were no more than 'ordinary polemic groups' that anyone could follow. He denies being
involved in various actions that are 'too far'. He also felt defamed, when accused of
participating in burning books. He even suggested that the case be brought to court if there was
enough material. If it is not enough, take it to an open forum, he said, but with the provisions I
may answer and defend myself, he added.
Since the New Order came to power, Pramoedya has never had the freedom to voice
his own voice, and he has been attacked and attacked several times openly in the newspaper
several times.
But in the description of the painter Joko Pekik, who had also been a prisoner on Buru
Island, he referred to Pramoedya as a 'scribe'. The clerical work referred to by Joko Pekik was
that Pramoedya got a 'job' from Buru Island officers as their typists. In fact, according to Joko
Pekik, Pramoedya's fate was better than most existing prisoners, since being transferred from
Unit III to the Command or Command Headquarters.
His status as an artist who was widely disseminated by the media internationally,
made him live better in detention. Pramoedya often becomes a 'star' when there are foreign
guests visiting, because his reputation in the International is highly valued.

Old age

Pramoedya in the 1990s wrote many short columns and articles criticizing the current
Indonesian government. She wrote the book Teenage Virgin in Military Grip, documentation
written in the pathetic style of Javanese women who were forced to be comfort women during
the Japanese occupation. All were taken to Buru Island where they experienced sexual violence,
ended up living there and not returning to Java. Pramoedya made his introduction when he
himself was a political prisoner on Buru Island during the 1970s.
Many of his writings touch on the theme of intercultural interaction; between the
Dutch, the Javanese kingdom, the Javanese in general, and the Chinese. Many of his writings
are also semi-autobiographical, in which he tells of his own experiences. He continues to be
active as a writer and columnist. He won the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism,
Literature and Creative Communication Arts 1995. He has also been considered for the Nobel
Literature Prize. He also won the Fukuoka XI 2000 Asian Culture Prize and the 2004 Norwegian
Authors' Union Award for his contribution to world literature. He completed a trip to North
America in 1999 and received an award from the University of Michigan.
Until the end of his life he actively wrote, even though his health had declined due to
his advanced age and his fondness for smoking. On January 12, 2006, he was reported to have
been sick for two weeks at his home in Bojong Gede, Bogor, and was treated in a hospital.
According to reports, Pramoedya has diabetes, shortness of breath and a weakened heart.
On February 6, 2006 at Taman Ismail Marzuki's Little Theater, a special exhibition was
held on the cover of a book by Pramoedya. This exhibition is at the same time an 81st birthday
present for Pramoedya. The exhibition titled Pram, Books and the Young Generation presents
covers of books that have been published overseas. There are about 200 books that have been
translated into various languages of the world.

Passed away

On April 27, 2006, Pram was unconscious. The family finally decided to take him to
Saint Carolus Hospital that same day. Pram was diagnosed with pneumonia, a disease that had
never contracted it, plus kidney, heart and diabetes complications.
Pram only lasted three days in the hospital. After regaining consciousness, he again
asked to go home. Although the request was not approved by the doctor, Pram insisted on
going home. Saturday April 29th, around 19:00, when he got to his house, his condition was
much better. Although still critical, Pram was able to tilt his body and move his hands.
His condition got worse again at 20:00. Pram can still smile and clench his fist when
writer Eka Budianta visited him. Pram also laughed when whispered by fans who visited him
that Suharto was still alive. Pram's condition did improve, then became critical again. Pram then
took off the IV tube and stated that he was cured. He then asked to be fed with oatmeal and
asked for cigarettes. But, of course the request was not passed by the family. They just put a
cigarette stick in Pram's mouth without igniting it. These conditions lasted until 22:00.
After that, several times he returned to a critical period. The family also decided to
hold a tahlilan to pray for Pram. The ups and downs of Pram's condition continued until 02.00.
At that time, he stated that God would immediately pick him up. "Just push me," he said.
However, friends and relatives who take care of Pram do not get tired of encouraging life.
News of Pram's death had spread since 03.00. The neighbors have already received the sad
news. However, at 05.00, they again heard that Pram was still alive. Finally, when he died, Pram
could moan, "Just end me. Burn me now," he said.
On April 30, 2006 at 08.55 Pramoedya died at the age of 81 years. The body was
bathed at 12:30 WIB, then it was salted. After that, he was taken out of the house to be put in
an ambulance that brought Pram to TPU Bivou Rubber. The song Internationale and Darah
Juang was sung among the mourners.
 BIOGRAFI
PRAMOEDYA ANANTA TOER

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OLEH :

Aisyah Nandini
XI OTKP 1