Armijn Pane (18 August 1908 – 16 February 1970), also known as Adinata, A. Soul, Empe, A. Mada, A. Banner, and Kartono,
was an Indonesian author.
Life
Armijn Pane was born in Moeara Sipongi,
Tapanuli,
Sumatra
Sumatra () is one of the Sunda Islands of western Indonesia. It is the largest island that is fully within Indonesian territory, as well as the list of islands by area, sixth-largest island in the world at 482,286.55 km2 (182,812 mi. ...
,
the third of eight children.
He began his education at the
Hollandsch-Inlandsche School
Hollandsch-Inlandsche School (HIS) (Dutch school for natives) was a school during the Dutch East Indies, Dutch colonial era in Indonesia. The school, was first established in 1914, following with the enactment of the Dutch Ethical Policy. The scho ...
s (HIS), in
Padang Sidempuan, and
Tanjung Balai and later joined the
Europeesche Lagere School
Europeesche Lagere School (ELS) was a European elementary school system in what was then the Dutch East Indies during colonial rule. The schools were intended primarily for Europeans. The implementation of basic education at that time was diffe ...
(ELS) in
Sibolga
Sibolga (formerly sometimes Siboga) is a city and a port located in the natural harbour of Sibolga Bay on the west coast of North Sumatra province, in Indonesia.
The city is located on the western side of North Sumatra facing the Indian Ocean, ...
and
Bukit Tinggi.
After graduating from ELS, he moved to Java where he began. Still, he didn't finish, medical training at the School tot voor Indische Opleiding Artsen (
STOVIA) in Jakarta and at the
Nederlandsch-Indische Artsen School (NIAS) in
Surabaya
Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...
. He then transferred his efforts to writing and literature at the
Algemene Middelbare School (AMS) in
Surakarta
Surakarta (Javanese script, Javanese: , Pegon script, Pegon: ), known colloquially as Solo (Javanese script, Javanese: ; ), is a major List of regencies and cities of Indonesia, city in Central Java, Indonesia. The city adjoins Karanganyar Reg ...
, before graduating in 1931 with a degree in Western Classical Literature.
While still a student he was active for a short time in the nationalist youth organisation, , but soon left this in favour of writing.
He began his working life as a journalist in
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
and
Surabaya
Surabaya is the capital city of East Java Provinces of Indonesia, province and the List of Indonesian cities by population, second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strai ...
, and also taught language and history at the national school in
Kediri and Jakarta.
In 1933 he and
Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana
Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana (11 February 1908 – 17 July 1994) was an Indonesian author.
He was born in Natal, North Sumatra. His family came from Minangkabau who migrated there in the 19th century. He was a founder and editor of '' Poedjan ...
started the magazine, ''
Poedjangga Baroe
''Poedjangga Baroe'' (pronounced ; Perfected spelling: ''Pujangga Baru'', also known by the intermediate spelling ''Pudjangga Baru'') was an Indonesian ''avant-garde'' literary magazine published from July 1933 to February 1942. It was founded ...
'',
where he served as the secretary and editor until 1938. In 1936 he joined the state publishing company,
Balai Pustaka, where he worked throughout the
Japanese occupation.
It was also during this period that he wrote his first works, among them the play ''Lenggang Kencana'' (1937) and a collection of poems entitled ''Jiwa Berjiwa'' (Soul to Soul, 1941);
Following the
Proclamation of Indonesian Independence
The Proclamation of Indonesian Independence (, or simply ''Proklamasi'') was read at 10:00 Tokyo Standard Time on Friday 17 August 1945 in Jakarta. The declaration marked the start of the diplomatic and armed resistance of the Indonesian Nati ...
, he became editor of ''Spektrum'', and a few years later, editor of the ''Indonesian Cultural Magazine''.
He was also the editor of the magazine ''Indonesia'' from 1948 to 1955.
During these years, he produced the play ''Jinak-jinak Merpati'' (Domestic Pigeons, 1953) and the collection of short stories ''Kisah antara Manusia'' (Stories about People, 1953).
Other well-known works by Armijn Pane include ''Iwa-inclined'' (1939), a collection of short stories, and the novel ''
Belenggu'' (Shackles, 1940).
From 1950 to 1955, he was a member of the (National Cultural Consultation Body).
He was honoured for his work in literature by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in 1969.
He died in
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
only a few months later, in February 1970.
His brother,
Sanusi Pane, was also a well-known writer and journalist.
Works
Pane's novel ''Belenggu'' has been called his most important contribution to Indonesian literature.
The novel met with mixed reviews after its publication in ''Poedjangga Baroe'', and was widely criticised on two grounds: that the storyline was highly improbable since the characters acted differently from normal people; and that the story was immoral.
The plot, a love triangle between a doctor, his wife, and his mistress, was considered new and very shocking to many Indonesians, particularly so since the novel stops short of assigning blame.
But the novel was also considered revolutionary in the way that Pane explored the feelings of his characters. Pane applied the technique of
interior monologue and used elliptical dots and dashes following incomplete sentences to indicate the doubts and uncertainties assailing a modern educated Indonesian man.
Due to both the style and content, the novel is regarded as a milestone in Indonesian literature.
His early short stories had a similar focus. ''Barang Tidak Berharga'' (A Worthless Thing), published in 1935, was similar in subject matter and tone, while ''Tudjuan Hidup'' (Life's Purpose), also written in 1935, is about a young woman's search for the courage to face a lonely future.
His later works, written after 1942, are considered by some to be quite different.
A. Teeuw notes that many of the plays written during this period differ from Pane's earlier works in their idealism and the lack of confusion and inner problems demonstrated by the characters.
He also wrote several plays and was one of the main authors who continued to do so during the Japanese occupation.
He has been credited with helping to lay the groundwork for the so-called "Generation of '45", but he was not part of that generation and in the post-revolutionary period made important contributions to Indonesian literature in other ways.
During the 1950s he helped establish several cultural institutions and organisations, and also published a history of the Chinese since the nineteenth century, and a book on the development of the Indonesian language.
Selected list of works
Plays
*''Lukisan Masa'', Jakarta: ''Poedjangga Baroe'', 1937
*''Setahun di Bedahulu'', Jakarta, 1938
*''Nyai Lenggang Kencana'', Jakarta: ''Poedjangga Baroe'', 1939
*''
Kami, Perempuan'', Jakarta, 1943
*''Antara Bumi dan Langit'', Jakarta, 1944
*''Di Tepi Pancuran'', Jakarta 1944
*''Melihat Bapak Mataku Buta'', Jajarta 1944
*''Jembatan Garuda'', Jakarta 1944
*''Kisah Antara Manusia'', Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, 1953
*''Jinak-Jinak Merpati'', Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, 1953
Novels
*''Belenggu'' (Shackles), Jakarta: Dian Rakyat, 1940
Poetry
*''Jiwa Berjiwa'', Jakarta: ''Poedjangga Baroe'', 1939
*''Gamelan Jiwa'', Jakarta: Balai Pustaka, 1960
Anthologies
*''Kort overzich van de moderne Indonesische Literatuur'', Balai Pustaka, 1949
*''Sanjak Muda Mr Muhammad Yamin'', Jakarta: Firma Rada, 1953
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pane, Armijn
1908 births
1970 deaths
Indonesian collaborators with Imperial Japan
Indonesian writers
People from Sumatra
People of Batak descent
Psychological fiction writers
STOVIA alumni