Nh. Dini
Encyclopedia
Nurhayati Srihardini Siti Nukatin (born in Semarang
, Central Java
, February 29, 1936), better known by her pen name "Nh. Dini" (sometimes "NH Dini" in English), is an Indonesian novelist and feminist. She is the youngest of five children of Saljowidjojo and Kusaminah. One branch of the family can be traced back to the Bugis
of South Sulawesi
.
artist, inspired by Javanese culture. She would read stories and poems to Dini that were written in the traditional Javanese alphabet. Her talent for writing fiction was soon confirmed. At the age of fifteen she read her poems on RRI
(the state radio network) in Semarang.
In 1956, while working as a flight attendant for Garuda Indonesia Airways, she published a series of stories called Dua Dunia (Two Worlds). She also worked briefly as a radio announcer.
In 1960 she married Yves Coffin, French consul to Kobe
, Japan. Two children were born of their marriage; Marie-Claire Lintang and Pierre Louis Padang. As the wife of a diplomat, she went with her husband to Japan and then to Phnom Penh
. She arrived in France in 1966. Later, they moved to Manila
. In 1976, they moved to Detroit.
Dini separated from her husband in 1984. She reclaimed her Indonesian nationality in 1985. For many years, she operated a non-profit agency devoted to juvenile literacy.
She received the S.E.A. Write Award
in 2003. Since then, she has lived in Sleman
, near Yogyakarta. She currently resides in a nursing home and has had to suspend work on a novel and her memoirs due to worsening attacks of vertigo
.
Semarang
- Economy :The western part of the city is home to many industrial parks and factories. The port of Semarang is located on the north coast and it is the main shipping port for the province of Central Java. Many small manufacturers are located in Semarang, producing goods such as textiles,...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
, February 29, 1936), better known by her pen name "Nh. Dini" (sometimes "NH Dini" in English), is an Indonesian novelist and feminist. She is the youngest of five children of Saljowidjojo and Kusaminah. One branch of the family can be traced back to the Bugis
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
of South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia, located on the western southern peninsula of Sulawesi Island. The province is bordered by Central Sulawesi province to the north, South East Sulawesi province to the east and West Sulawesi province to the west...
.
Life
Dini says that she began to love writing when she was in the second grade. Her mother was a batikBatik
Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.Javanese traditional batik, especially from...
artist, inspired by Javanese culture. She would read stories and poems to Dini that were written in the traditional Javanese alphabet. Her talent for writing fiction was soon confirmed. At the age of fifteen she read her poems on RRI
Radio Republik Indonesia
Radio Republik Indonesia is the state radio network of Indonesia. The organization is a public broadcasting service. It is a national radio station that broadcasts all over Indonesia and abroad to serve all Indonesian citizens throughout the nation and overseas. RRI also provides information about...
(the state radio network) in Semarang.
In 1956, while working as a flight attendant for Garuda Indonesia Airways, she published a series of stories called Dua Dunia (Two Worlds). She also worked briefly as a radio announcer.
In 1960 she married Yves Coffin, French consul to Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, Japan. Two children were born of their marriage; Marie-Claire Lintang and Pierre Louis Padang. As the wife of a diplomat, she went with her husband to Japan and then to Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. She arrived in France in 1966. Later, they moved to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
. In 1976, they moved to Detroit.
Dini separated from her husband in 1984. She reclaimed her Indonesian nationality in 1985. For many years, she operated a non-profit agency devoted to juvenile literacy.
She received the S.E.A. Write Award
S.E.A. Write Award
The S.E.A. Write Award, or Southeast Asian Writers Award, is an award that has been presented annually since 1979 to poets and writers in Southeast Asia....
in 2003. Since then, she has lived in Sleman
Sleman
Sleman is a town in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. It is on the road between Yogyakarta and Magelang. It is in the regency that is home to Mount Merapi, which started its most recent eruption in late October and early November 2010, killing hundreds, including Maridjan, the spiritual keeper of the...
, near Yogyakarta. She currently resides in a nursing home and has had to suspend work on a novel and her memoirs due to worsening attacks of vertigo
Vertigo
Vertigo is a form of dizziness.Vertigo may also refer to:* Vertigo , a 1958 film by Alfred Hitchcock**Vertigo , its soundtrack** Vertigo effect, or Dolly zoom, a special effect in film, named after the movie...
.
In English
- A Journey (short story) in "Black Clouds Over the Isle of Gods", edited by David Roskies. M. E. Sharpe (1997) ISBN 0-7656-0033-1
- The Chicken (short story) in "Diverse Lives" edited by Jeanette Lingard, Oxford Asia (1995) ISBN 967-65-3100-6