http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/opinion/the-thinker-bookworms-bahasa/416533
The Thinker: Bookworm's Bahasa
Karim Raslan | January 12, 2011
Ten years ago, when I first started visiting Indonesia, I realized that I had
to learn the country's language. Having never had any formal Bahasa Indonesia
lessons, it was an uphill struggle.
Still, I was determined to master this fascinating and intriguing language -
arguably founding President Sukarno's greatest legacy and the key to the
archipelago.
Even now, I can still remember picking up a copy of Pramoedya Ananta Toer's
once-banned novel, "Bumi Manusia" ("Earth Man"). Armed with a dictionary, I
waded through the text, annotating every word I didn't recognize.
To my dismay, there were as many pen marks on the page as there were printed
words. But I persevered, and after three months of diligent work, I completed
the task.
However, reading Bahasa and speaking it are two entirely different challenges.
I can still recall the embarrassment I felt six years ago when I had to speak
in English during an interview on Indonesian TV while my fellow guest, a
prominent American political scientist, breezed through his segment in
wonderfully expressive Bahasa.
My fluency in the language has improved since then and has opened up new
experiences. In the past, I was forced to depend on translators and assistants,
but now I can turn up almost anywhere in Indonesia and gain a better
understanding of the community and the people.
Bahasa Indonesia is like an open-source computer system, akin to Linux
software. The language isn't dominated by one race or religion, adapting itself
to all forms of personal expression - ranging from Sunday church services to
the Friday khutbah (public prayer), and from high-powered corporate boardrooms
to greasy food stalls along Jalan Pecenongan.
Learning the language has also enabled me to enjoy Indonesian literature.
Having foresworn the evil influences of my BlackBerry (Communication and
Information Technology Minister Tifatul Sembiring would approve), I devoted my
time to reading a few Bahasa books on my bedside table.
The first was Zuhairi Misrawi's "Al Quran Kitab Toleransi" ("The Koran: A
Tolerant Scripture"). Zuhairi, a leading Muslim intellectual, is a prolific
author, churning out tomes on Medina, Mecca, former President Abdurrahman Wahid
and Nahdlatul Ulama founder Hasyim Asyari.
His bold and dynamic interpretations of the Koran are a pleasure to read.
Further, his works provide a solid intellectual and theological foundation to
the NU's ongoing interfaith initiatives.
In "Al Quran," Zuhairi notes that more than 300 verses of the Koran advocate
tolerance, debunking some Western claims that the holy book promotes terrorism.
More interestingly, he contextualizes the Koran's lines using sociological and
anthropological analysis. Zuhairi uses French philosopher Paul Riccoeur's
phenomenological hermeneutics, or the interpretation of texts as they appear
from individuals' subjective perspectives.
I also began reading Linda Christanty's latest collection of short stories,
"Rahasia Selma" ("Selma's Secret"), which won the prestigious Khatulistiwa
Literary Award last year.
This was Linda's second win in the past decade. I would also like to mention
that she edited my modest collection of essays in a book called "Ceritalah
Indonesia."
The short stories in "Rahasia Selma" are haunting and provocative.
The author presents a world of loss, loneliness and isolation.
The actual geographical location of Linda's stories is never disclosed, but
having visited her hometown, Bangka Islands, and seen its landscape ravaged by
tin-mining companies, I must admit that I have a better sense of the author's
imagined world.
Linda seems to specialize in stories that deal with dysfunctional and troubled
families.
Despite the all-pervasive sense of uncertainty and foreboding, Linda's language
remains crisp, elegant and enigmatic.
She deftly weaves themes of madness, lesbianism and domestic violence into her
narratives.
The two books present very different perspectives on modern Indonesia.
Had I not set aside my BlackBerry, thus minimizing distraction, I would have
never had the intellectual energy to read these literary gems.
Indeed, learning and accumulating knowledge requires time and energy.
Multitasking doesn't work, especially when you're trying to grasp visionary
Islamic ideas.
I am now raring to read Surabaya-based scholar Nur Syam's interesting book,
"Agama Pelacur" ("The Prostitute's Religion"). I am thankful I learned Bahasa
Indonesia.
Karim Raslan is a columnist who divides his time between Malaysia and Indonesia.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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