Balai Pustaka
Encyclopedia
Balai Pustaka (ˈbalai pusˈtaka; also spelled Balai Poestaka, both meaning "Bureau of Literature") is the state-owned
publisher of Indonesia
and publisher of major pieces of Indonesian literature
such as Salah Asuhan
, Sitti Nurbaya
and Layar Terkembang
. Its head office is in Jakarta
.
Founded in 1917 as the Kantoor voor de Volkslectuur, Balai Pustaka was used by the Dutch colonial government
as a means to control native Indonesians' access to information. After changing hands twice during the Indonesian war of independence, Balai Pustaka formally fell under the ownership of the Indonesian government. As of 2011, it is facing liquidation.
At the time, numerous free presses existed, publishing work in either bazaar or Chinese Malay. These works were outside of the control of colonial government and considered harmful to public morals. In order to provide "reading suitable for native Indonesians,", the Commission was formalized as the Office for People's Reading in 1917. In 1918 it was renamed Balai Pustaka.
At first Balai Pustaka released Malay translations of popular novels from the West, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
, The Last of the Mohicans
, and Sans Famille
. It also published original, Malay-language short stories such as Penghibur Hati. With the publication of Azab dan Sengsara in 1920, Balai Pustaka began publishing original novels.
During this time Balai Bahasa practiced strict censorship. Works such as Salah Asuhan
were blocked from publication until they fulfilled the publisher's demands. It also required the use of formal Malay
; this requirement led to a disproportionate number of Sumatra
n writers being published.
During World War II
and the Indonesian war of independence, control of Balai Pustaka changed hands twice. After the Dutch surrendered, the Japanese gave control of Balai Pustaka over to the native Indonesians. It was later retaken by the Dutch in July 1947, and then formally returned to Indonesian control in 1949 when the Dutch formally acknowledged Indonesia's independence.
Currently, Balai Bahasa is a state-owned publisher. Aside from publishing books, it also prints the national exams for senior high, vocational
, and junior high schools.
As of 2011, Balai Pustaka faces liquidation
if it cannot turn a profit.
in the development of modern Indonesian literature. It is called either the Balai Pustaka period or the 20's period . Aside from that, researchers and critics of Indonesian literature conventionally consider the formation of Balai Pustaka and publishing of Azab dan Sengsara
as the beginning of modern Indonesian novel. Aside from that, some critics such as H. B. Jassin consider the publication of Azab dan Sengsara to be the birth of modern Indonesian literature.
Among the themes common to works published in the Balai Pustaka period are arranged marriage
, conflict between the younger and older generations, and conflict between Western culture and traditional values
. The diction
is standardized, not dependent on the author.
, ... used to divide the Indonesian people on ethnic lines.".
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
publisher of Indonesia
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...
and publisher of major pieces of 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...
such as Salah Asuhan
Salah Asuhan
Salah Asuhan is an Indonesian novel by Abdul Muis originally published in 1928 by Balai Pustaka. It is widely considered one of the best examples of early modern Indonesian literature.-Background:...
, Sitti Nurbaya
Sitti Nurbaya
Sitti Nurbaya: Kasih Tak Sampai is an Indonesian novel by Marah Rusli. It was published by Balai Pustaka, the state-owned publisher and literary bureau of the Dutch East Indies, in 1922...
and Layar Terkembang
Layar Terkembang
Layar Terkembang is an Indonesian novel by Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana. Published in 1936 or 1937 by Balai Pustaka, it tells the story of two sisters and their relationship with a medical student...
. Its head office is in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
.
Founded in 1917 as the Kantoor voor de Volkslectuur, Balai Pustaka was used by the Dutch colonial government
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
as a means to control native Indonesians' access to information. After changing hands twice during the Indonesian war of independence, Balai Pustaka formally fell under the ownership of the Indonesian government. As of 2011, it is facing liquidation.
History
On 14 September 1908 the Dutch colonial government established the Commission for People's Education and Reading , later shortened to the Commission for People's Reading . Along with the foundation of Boedi Oetama, it served to bring formal education to native Indonesians.At the time, numerous free presses existed, publishing work in either bazaar or Chinese Malay. These works were outside of the control of colonial government and considered harmful to public morals. In order to provide "reading suitable for native Indonesians,", the Commission was formalized as the Office for People's Reading in 1917. In 1918 it was renamed Balai Pustaka.
At first Balai Pustaka released Malay translations of popular novels from the West, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is an 1876 novel about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. The story is set in the Town of "St...
, The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 is a historical novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in February 1826. It is the second book of the Leatherstocking Tales pentalogy and the best known...
, and Sans Famille
Sans Famille
Sans Famille is an 1878 French novel by Hector Malot. Most recent English translation is "Alone in the World" by AJ de Bruyn, 2007.-First Volume:...
. It also published original, Malay-language short stories such as Penghibur Hati. With the publication of Azab dan Sengsara in 1920, Balai Pustaka began publishing original novels.
During this time Balai Bahasa practiced strict censorship. Works such as Salah Asuhan
Salah Asuhan
Salah Asuhan is an Indonesian novel by Abdul Muis originally published in 1928 by Balai Pustaka. It is widely considered one of the best examples of early modern Indonesian literature.-Background:...
were blocked from publication until they fulfilled the publisher's demands. It also required the use of formal Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
; this requirement led to a disproportionate number of Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
n writers being published.
During 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...
and the Indonesian war of independence, control of Balai Pustaka changed hands twice. After the Dutch surrendered, the Japanese gave control of Balai Pustaka over to the native Indonesians. It was later retaken by the Dutch in July 1947, and then formally returned to Indonesian control in 1949 when the Dutch formally acknowledged Indonesia's independence.
Currently, Balai Bahasa is a state-owned publisher. Aside from publishing books, it also prints the national exams for senior high, vocational
Vocational school
A vocational school , providing vocational education, is a school in which students are taught the skills needed to perform a particular job...
, and junior high schools.
As of 2011, Balai Pustaka faces liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
if it cannot turn a profit.
Balai Pustaka period
The early years of Balai Pustaka, from the publication of Azab and Sengsara in 1920 until 1933 when Pujangga Baru was first published, to be the first periodPeriodization
Periodization is the attempt to categorize or divide time into named blocks. The result is a descriptive abstraction that provides a useful handle on periods of time with relatively stable characteristics...
in the development of modern Indonesian literature. It is called either the Balai Pustaka period or the 20's period . Aside from that, researchers and critics of Indonesian literature conventionally consider the formation of Balai Pustaka and publishing of Azab dan Sengsara
Azab dan Sengsara
Azab dan Sengsara is a 1920 novel written by Merari Siregar and published by Balai Pustaka, Indonesia's major publisher at that time. It tells the story of two lovers, Amiruddin and Mariamin, who are unable to marry and eventually become miserable...
as the beginning of modern Indonesian novel. Aside from that, some critics such as H. B. Jassin consider the publication of Azab dan Sengsara to be the birth of modern Indonesian literature.
Among the themes common to works published in the Balai Pustaka period are arranged marriage
Arranged marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which someone other than the couple getting married makes the selection of the persons to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Such marriages had deep roots in royal and aristocratic families around the world...
, conflict between the younger and older generations, and conflict between Western culture and traditional values
Adat
Adat in Indonesian-Malay culture is the set of cultural norms, values, customs and practices found among specific ethnic groups in Indonesia, the southern Philippines and Malaysia...
. The diction
Diction
Diction , in its original, primary meaning, refers to the writer's or the speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story...
is standardized, not dependent on the author.
Criticism
Balai Pustaka under the Dutch colonial government was criticized for its language policy and censorship. The forced use of formal Malay has been called "language politicsLanguage politics
Language politics is a term used to describe political consequences of linguistic differences between people, or on occasion the political consequences of the way a language is spoken and what words are used. It means language can express some authority. Examples include:*Recognition of a...
, ... used to divide the Indonesian people on ethnic lines.".
Novels
| Year | Title | Title in English | Author |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Azab dan Sengsara Azab dan Sengsara Azab dan Sengsara is a 1920 novel written by Merari Siregar and published by Balai Pustaka, Indonesia's major publisher at that time. It tells the story of two lovers, Amiruddin and Mariamin, who are unable to marry and eventually become miserable... |
Pain and Suffering | Merari Siregar Merari Siregar Merari Siregar was an Indonesian writer and also the author of the first novel written in Indonesian.... |
| 1922 | Habis Gelap Terbitlah Terang | After Darkness Light is Born | R.A. Kartini |
| 1922 | Sitti Nurbaya: Kasih Tak Sampai | Sitti Nurbaya: Unrealized Love | Marah Rusli |
| 1928 | Salah Asuhan Salah Asuhan Salah Asuhan is an Indonesian novel by Abdul Muis originally published in 1928 by Balai Pustaka. It is widely considered one of the best examples of early modern Indonesian literature.-Background:... |
Wrong Upbringing | Abdul Muis Abdul Muis Abdul Muis , was an Indonesian writer, journalist and nationalist. He argued tirelessly for Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands.... |
| 1928 | Salah Pilih | Wrong Choice | Nur Sutan Iskandar Nur Sutan Iskandar Muhammad Nur Sutan Iskandar, known as Nur Sutan Iskandar was born in Sungai Batang, West Sumatra on November 3, 1893 and died in Jakarta on November 28, 1975. He was prominent Indonesian author and most of productive writer in the Balai Pustaka generation. In 1919, he moved to Jakarta and joined to... |
| 1936 | Layar Terkembang Layar Terkembang Layar Terkembang is an Indonesian novel by Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana. Published in 1936 or 1937 by Balai Pustaka, it tells the story of two sisters and their relationship with a medical student... |
The Sail Unfolds | Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana , was born in Natal, North Sumatra. His family came from Minangkabau who migration in 19th century. He was a founder and editor of Pujangga Baru. He became one of Indonesian literature's guiding lights in its formative years, particularly in the time around independence... |
| 1948 | Dari Ave Maria ke Jalan Lain ke Roma | From Ave Maria to Another Way to Rome | Idrus Idrus Idrus was born in Padang, West Sumatera on September 21, 1921 and died on May 18, 1979. Idrus was a prominent Indonesian writer and pioneer of Generation '45. He was joined to Balai Pustaka, Jakarta and raised as a productive writer. In 1946, he married Ratna Suri and had six children... |
| 1949 | Atheis | Atheist | Achdiat Karta Mihardja Achdiat Karta Mihardja Achdiat Karta Mihardja was an Indonesian 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.gifMihardja was born on March 6, 1911,... |