Achdiat Karta Mihardja
Encyclopedia
Achdiat Karta Mihardja (March 6, 1911 – July 8, 2010) was an Indonesia
n author
, novelist and playwright
. He is best known for his novel, Atheist, which was published in 1949. Atheist is considered one of Indonesia's most important literary works following World War II
.
| image = 09achdiat.gif
Mihardja was born on March 6, 1911, in Garut
, West Java
. His father, a bank manager, had a collection of books which Mihardja credited with sparking his interest in literature.
Mihardja worked as a journalist early in his career. In 1949, he published his most important work, Atheist, which centered on a Muslim
man from West Java
, Hasan, and his relationship with his friends, who had been influenced by foreign ideas, such as Marxism
. The book is considered as one of Indonesia's most important modern literary works. Atheist was later adapted into a 1974 film
, which was directed by Sjuman Djaja and co-starred Christine Hakim
and Deddy Sutomo. Mihardja was a recipient on Indonesia's national literary award in 1956 for his work.
Mihardja helped to found Lekra, an Indonesian writers' organization tied to the Communist Party of Indonesia
, in 1950. Though rumors persisted, he denied that he was atheist. Mihardja was a member of the Socialist Party of Indonesia
, which was banned in 1960 by his friend, President Sukarno
. He would later speak about his relationship with Sukarno, "We were best friends but not in terms of ideology
...Worse, out of the blue he banned my party."
In 1961 Mihardja became a professor Indonesian literature
and language at Australian National University
on invitation from the university. He ultimately chose to settle permanently in Canberra
in the 1960s, where he resided for more than 40 years. However, he continued to receive recognitions for his work in Indonesia. He was awarded Indonesia's arts award in 1971.
His last visit to Indonesia occurred in June 2005. The visit was to promote the release of his follow-up novel to Atheist, Manifesto Khalifatullah, which went on sale on June 7, 2005. Mihardja described Manifesto Khalifatullah as his answer to Atheist. He described the main message in the 2005 novel as "God made man to be His representative on earth, not that of Satan." In 2009, Mihardja expressed an interest in writing his autobiography, but he was unable to complete this work.
Achdiat Karta Mihardja suffered a stroke
in July 2010. He died of complications in Canberra
, Australia
, on July 8, 2010, at the age of 99. He was survived by his wife, Tati Suprapti Noor, and four children. He was buried in Canberra on the same day. , from his daughter Natalie Widyantie born Jamie Aditya
as grandson.
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, novelist and playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
. He is best known for his novel, Atheist, which was published in 1949. Atheist is considered one of Indonesia's most important literary works following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
| image = 09achdiat.gif
Mihardja was born on March 6, 1911, in Garut
Garut
Garut is a town in the West Java province of Indonesia and is the capital of the Garut Regency. It is located about 75 km to the southeast of the major city of Bandung.-History:...
, 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...
. His father, a bank manager, had a collection of books which Mihardja credited with sparking his interest in literature.
Mihardja worked as a journalist early in his career. In 1949, he published his most important work, Atheist, which centered on a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
man from 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...
, Hasan, and his relationship with his friends, who had been influenced by foreign ideas, such as Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. The book is considered as one of Indonesia's most important modern literary works. Atheist was later adapted into a 1974 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, which was directed by Sjuman Djaja and co-starred Christine Hakim
Christine Hakim
Herlina Christine Natalia Hakim , also known by the popular name Christine Hakim, is an Indonesian actress, film producer, and activist. Born to a devout Muslim family of a mixed-race background in Jambi, she grew up in Yogyakarta, aspiring to be an architect or psychologist...
and Deddy Sutomo. Mihardja was a recipient on Indonesia's national literary award in 1956 for his work.
Mihardja helped to found Lekra, an Indonesian writers' organization tied to the Communist Party of Indonesia
Communist Party of Indonesia
The Communist Party of Indonesia was the largest non-ruling communist party in the world prior to being crushed in 1965 and banned the following year.-Forerunners:...
, in 1950. Though rumors persisted, he denied that he was atheist. Mihardja was a member of the Socialist Party of Indonesia
Socialist Party of Indonesia
The Socialist Party of Indonesia was a political party in Indonesia from 1948 until 1960, when it was banned by President Sukarno.-Origins:...
, which was banned in 1960 by his friend, President Sukarno
Sukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
. He would later speak about his relationship with Sukarno, "We were best friends but not in terms of ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
...Worse, out of the blue he banned my party."
In 1961 Mihardja became a professor Indonesian literature
Indonesian literature
Indonesian literature, is a term grouping various genres of South-East Asian literature.Indonesian Literature can refer to literature produced in the Indonesian archipelago. It is also used to refer more broadly to literature produced in areas with common language roots based on the Malay language...
and language at Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
on invitation from the university. He ultimately chose to settle permanently in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
in the 1960s, where he resided for more than 40 years. However, he continued to receive recognitions for his work in Indonesia. He was awarded Indonesia's arts award in 1971.
His last visit to Indonesia occurred in June 2005. The visit was to promote the release of his follow-up novel to Atheist, Manifesto Khalifatullah, which went on sale on June 7, 2005. Mihardja described Manifesto Khalifatullah as his answer to Atheist. He described the main message in the 2005 novel as "God made man to be His representative on earth, not that of Satan." In 2009, Mihardja expressed an interest in writing his autobiography, but he was unable to complete this work.
Achdiat Karta Mihardja suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in July 2010. He died of complications in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, on July 8, 2010, at the age of 99. He was survived by his wife, Tati Suprapti Noor, and four children. He was buried in Canberra on the same day. , from his daughter Natalie Widyantie born Jamie Aditya
Jamie Aditya
James Adityawarman Graham, also known as Jamie Aditya is a host, actor and singer from Indonesia.- Family :Jamie Aditya is the grandson of Achdiat Karta Mihardja, Indonesia's famous writer and novelist from West Java. His mother was the daughter of Achdiat K. Mihardja mrs Natalie Widyanti and his...
as grandson.