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If it’s not Japanese-style manga or the latest edition of the “Twilight” saga, chances are you won’t find today’s young Indonesians reading it.

But not so long ago, things were very different.

During the Japanese occupation of Indonesia in World War II, literature experienced a heyday and was thought of as one of the most vibrant and effective tools for motivating young minds in the fight against injustice.

And among the many writers who set people’s hearts on fire, poet Chairil Anwar was considered one of the most influential.

To celebrate Independence Day, a small exhibition, titled “Sajak dan Fotografi — Chairil Anwar” (“Poems and Photography — Chairil Anwar”), has been organized to honor Chairil’s contribution to the world of literature.

The exhibition is a joint project between the Antara Journalistic Photo Gallery and the HB Jassin Literature Documentation Center.

“I think young Indonesians need to learn more about this important figure,” said Budiman Santoso, a 34-year-old visitor to the exhibition at the Antara gallery in Pasar Baru.

“He was a hero, because through his words he motivated the people to fight for independence.”

Chairil was a central figure in the Angkatan ’45, or Generation ’45, literature movement of Indonesian writers who gave their voices to the country’s struggle for independence.

Other members of the movement included the poets Armin Pane and Asrul Sani.

Born in July 1922 in Medan, North Sumatra, Chairil moved to Jakarta after his parents divorced.

Although Chairil dropped out of school at the age of 19, he was fluent in English, Dutch and German.

He soon immersed himself in the works of such authors as Friedrich Nietzsche, Rainer M Rilke and Edgar du Perron, finding in their books motivation and inspiration for his own writing.

In the poem titled “Persetujuan Dengan Bung Karno” (“An Agreement with Bung Karno”), Chairil lent his voice to support President Sukarno and the 1945 Declaration of Independence.

In the poem, Chairil wrote: “C’mon, Bung Karno, give me your hand and let’s make an agreement. I’ve talked to you quite long enough/Burned on your fire, salted by your sea from August 1945. Now, I’ve stepped forward close beside you/Now, I’m fire, I’m the sea.”

In another poem, “Diponegoro,” he used the example of the Central Javanese hero Diponegoro to encourage Indonesia’s modern-day freedom fighters.

“Go forward, assault, attack, lunge,” Chairil wrote.

“Chairil Anwar’s poems were always my favorite in elementary school,” said Abdurrahman Lendy, a 33-year-old exhibition visitor. “I believe that even until now, Chairil’s poems are taught to Indonesian students everywhere.”

The poem titled “Aku” (“Me”), written in 1943, was read by students in schools across the country for years and still reverberates with many Indonesians when they read it to this day.

“I always get shaken when I hear someone read it,” said 26-year-old Oky Marzuki, a government employee.

“I believe that Chairil was a talented young poet who was able to use his heart to portray what he was seeing in real life.”

Chairil’s hard lifestyle caught up with him and he died of tuberculosis at the young age of 26, but his legacy lives on though his poetry, which infused the young country with a spirit that helped give it the courage to grow.

Budiman said he hoped Chairil’s literary spirit would never grow old and would wear off on young Indonesians who visited the exhibition. “I hope this exhibition can inspire young Indonesians to write poems as great as Chairil Anwar.”


‘Poems and Photography — Chairil Anwar’. Until Sept. 13, daily from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Antara Journalistic Photo Gallery, Jalan Antara No. 59, Pasar Baru, Jakarta. Tel: 021 345 8771.